Aston Villa could have a Joan García transfer alternative at keeper in Pierce Charles | OneFootball

While some, like Jamie Carragher, refuse to believe that Emiliano Martínez is as good as he is, Aston Villa know how much the keeper means to the club. Even so, the departure of Robin Olsen to Malmö FF makes it likely that Monchi will need to orchestrate a move for a keeper this summer. Many point to Espanyol GK Joan García as a potential replacement, but a certain talent from the Championship could end up being the solution for the No. 2 role.

Pierce Charles currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday. Although only 19 years old, the Northern Ireland international is garnering a lot of interest from Premier League sides. As disclosed by EFL Analysis's Josh Barker, Aston Villa are one of a number of clubs that have actively expressed interest in the teenager.

While Charles has the talent and would prefer a more immediate path toward a starting keeper role, coming to Bodymoor and learning under Martinez could be an enticing enough option to lure away prospective offers from the likes of Everton, Manchester City, and Tottenham.

Having Martinez is a gift for Villa. Naturally, like anyone else, he'll have errors that lead to goals. Throughout his stay in Birmingham, the Argentinian has started over 30 times in each Premier League season and rarely takes a day in any other competition. This could be part of what ultimately leads AVFC to signing Charles.

Having a clear-cut number one is excellent. Unai Emery will want to have someone dependable to turn to in case something unforeseen happens. It will also help Martinez to not play in each match. Allowing someone else to have some time in between the posts will do him and the club a whole lot of good.

Skill set stands out for Aston Villa and others

When watching Charles, the aspect of his game that instantly stands out is his distribution. Even when pressured, the Owls' keeper accurately gets the ball out from under his feet and, in effect, serves as an additional field player who can start the attack.

He also is an excellent shot stopper and isn't too shy in terms of being able to step up to prevent a penalty from being scored. A complication could be the youngster's contract. Charles, as shared by The Star's Joe Crann, the goalie has two years remaining on his current deal. Anyone looking to sign him would need to match the current Sheffield Wednesday valuation of the player.

Villa could end up electing to stick with their current academy options. By all means, they have had several good showings with the younger side. Still, with a young talent potentially available, it would be a surprise if Charles ends up joining the claret and blue.