Aston Villa have confirmed that Filip Marschall has joined Crewe Alexandra on loan in another exit from our goalkeeper department.
The 21-year-old has come through our youth ranks and enjoyed productive loan spells at Gateshead and MK Dons previously, with the latter stint coming in the second half of last season.
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Having made his senior Villa debut in the Europa Conference League in the last campaign, Unai Emery has perhaps seen something he likes in the young shot-stopper so as to not opt to green light a permanent departure, but another loan stint could be useful for him to continue to gain experience and develop his game.
As per the club’s official statement, Marschall has joined Crewe on loan for what is likely to be the entire season, and so it’s hoped that he is able to secure regular playing time and make it another important step in his career.
Time will tell if that eventually leads to him pushing his way up the pecking order at Villa in the years to come, but for the upcoming campaign, it looks as though Emery’s preference is taking shape.
Emiliano Martinez will of course remain as first choice between the posts, but after Viljami Sinisalo’s exit to join Celtic on a permanent basis coupled with Marschall moving on temporarily, that leaves us with Robin Olsen and Joe Gauci in terms of depth options in the current first-team squad.
Villa may opt to bring in another goalkeeper to add more depth or we might see a promotion from our youth ranks in the matchday squad, but pre-season will now be fundamental in determining who is the preferred choice when Martinez is either unavailable or left out to rest.
Ideally, given he could be a long-term solution if he impresses, Gauci will have a strong pre-season which in turn sees him surpass Olsen, and having had since January to settle in and adapt, the Australian international will hopefully have the foundation in place to kick on and make that role his own.
That said, Emery undoubtedly values Olsen’s experience and ability despite concerns us as fans might have about the Swedish stalwart, and so it remains to be seen if he continues to show faith in him when a change is needed in goal, or if it does indeed clear a path for Gauci to come through, with his Villa teammate offering a third-choice option when necessary.
