Tom Heaton is ready to leave Burnley next month.

The Mirror says Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is favourite to sign Burnley outcast Heaton next month.

Smith wants a reliable and experienced campaigner to help Aston Villa's Championship promotion push and has identified Heaton, who is surplus to requirements at the Premier League strugglers.

The 32-year-old has slipped down the goalkeeping pecking order at Turf Moor behind fellow England internationals Joe Hart and Nick Pope and wants to leave when the window opens in January.

Boss Sean Dyche will not stand in his way, but the Clarets will want a fee for a player they signed from Bristol City on a free transfer five years ago.