This season will see Joe Gauci spend time away from Aston Villa, as the keeper will join League One side Port Vale. Gauci will be a part of the Valiants' squad through a loan deal.
Toward the second half of this past season, Gauci experienced League One as a member of Barnsley. Now slated to compete in the same league, the Australian is going to look to earn time on the pitch again while looking to help this Port Vale team strive for a position to earn promotion.
Gauci was always going to be in a difficult position at Villa. With the arrival of Marco Bizot and the club's ability to keep Emiliano Martínez, it was going to be hard to see the Australia international able to find a way into the rotation.
At 25, Gauci is going to have the chance to compete for playing time with this move. Port Vale already have Marko Marosi and Ben Amos, though Amos will miss time due to a muscle injury.
The addition of Bizot more or less made it a formality that Gauci would find a new home for the 2025-2026 campaign. It is now known, however, that it will be through a loan agreement. When discussing the keeper position, it does need to be remembered that there is a longer time frame for someone to make an impact or show their full potential.
Outlook for Aston Villa keeper
Compared to a field player, there is not necessarily a rush for the keeper to make an impact for a squad. Considering Villa still have Martínez and Bizot secured at the club for the foreseeable future, it would realistically take an unfortunate injury for the Australian to see time during a match between the posts.
For now, this is a move that will give him a better chance to see game action and fight for a spot as a regular starter away from Villa.