By Graham Hill
IT looks as though keeper Lovre Kalinic’s stay at Villa Park could be a short one.
Much was expected of the Croatia international when he signed for Villa in a £6million deal last January.
But circumstances turned against Kalinic massively as he was replaced by Jed Steer – effectively Villa’s third choice at the start of the season.
And when Kalinic suffered a head injury in the defeat to West Brom in February, that was the signal for Steer to step in and play a major role in the unbeaten run that took Villa into the top six.
Now, according to The Sun, boss Dean Snith is ready to let Kalinic leave the club and sign a new keeper for next season.
The irony of last season was that two International keepers were brought in – Norway’s Orjan Nyland being the other – yet it was the man who had been loaned out to League One Charlton who turned out to be an unsung hero.
Kalinic, 29, did not have the best of introductions to life at Villa.
He made only eight appearances and let in 15 goals before Steer came in to dramatically improve those statistics.
Kalinic then underwent a knee operation before the end of the season, although he did return in time for the Play-offs.
But Villa can afford to cut their losses on this signing now that they are in the Premier League and can rebuild.
Villa Roar 