Former Stoke City keeper Neil Cutler forged an impressive reputation as coach at Villa Park

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Aston Villa were genuinely sizing up a big money move forJack Butlandas he fought for form at Stoke City under Nathan Jones, coach Neil Cutler has confirmed.

Butland had seemed destined to be Englands long-term number one as he stepped up to first choice at Stoke in 2015, having been groomed for the position through the international youth teams. He was enjoying an exceptional breakthrough year in the Premier League when he suffered what turned out to be a career-changing complicated ankle injury while on England duty in the spring of 2016.

He was ruled out for pretty much a year and Stoke struggled upon his return, sliding into the Championship as they leaked goals and struggled to score. He stayed put that summer as Stoke held firm on any asking price, also keeping Joe Allen as they tried to earn an immediate return to the top flight.

READ MORE:Stoke City could receive EFL green light as Rick Parry looks to solve 89m problem

Butland was an important figure that term and was named in Englands World Cup squad in 2018. There were sniffs around again, withVilla, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace linked,and Jones brought in Adam Davies from Barnsley as his intended replacement.

But no offer met Stokes asking price and Butland stayed for another year, which started disastrously and ended up being a fight to avoid relegation. He eventually left for Palace in 2020 for about 1m.

Cutler, a former Stoke keeper himself, spoke toClaret & Blue: an Aston Villa Podcastabout his belief that he could have got Butland back to his best if Villa had been able to agree a fee.

Yeah, we spoke to Jack, he said. He was a little bit different at the time because he was struggling a little bit with his performances at Stoke. I look at goalies and I go, I can make him better! I can make him be top, top end. Thats just how I feel when I see a goalkeeper.

Even when I see him struggling at another club, I go, I can make him Hes quick, athletic, hes agile, hes got a good shape, hes played for England. I can get him back to where he should be.

But thats difficult selling that to a football club that have got to shell out 20, 30 million for a goalie thats not playing well. With Tom Heaton, it was a no-brainer because of his price at the time was next to nothing for a goalkeeper of that experience and knowledge and, for me, he had to be the number one (choice) because of what he brought.

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