Aston Villa keeper Tom Heaton will consider all options

The goalkeeper’s contract is due to expire this summer and boss Dean Smith is keen to keep him at Villa Park for at least another season.

But Heaton, who turns 35 later this month, will also consider other offers before making a decision on his future.

The England international joined Villa from Burnley in an £8million move in the summer of 2019 but made only 21 first-team appearances before suffering a serious knee injury while playing against his former club on January 1, 2020.

Last summer Villa signed Emiliano Martinez for £20million from Arsenal and the Argentine has taken a strong hold on the No.1 jersey, keeping 14 clean sheets in 29 Premier League starts this term.

It means Heaton, who returned to full fitness in December, has had to make do with a place on the substitutes bench.

While still happy at Villa and a hugely respected voice in the dressing room, he remains hungry to play and his experience and proven quality means he is likely to attract interest from clubs both in the Premier League and Championship.

Villa also have 2019 Championship play-off final keeper Jed Steer as their third-choice while Croatia international Lovre Kalinic, currently on loan with hometown club Hajduk Split, still has another two years left to run on his contract.

While the current season still has nine matches left to run, Villa are continuing to keep one eye on the future with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz among those players expected to be offered fresh terms.

Defender Ezri Konsa last week became the latest to commit his long-term future to the club by signing a contract extension through to 2026.

Konsa’s central defensive partner Tyrone Mings, midfielder John McGinn and captain Jack Grealish have also agreed extensions during the current campaign.