Aston Villa have their man in midfield
Free. That is the part Aston Villa like most about Leon Goretzka. The German is on the verge of joining, with the club close to wrapping up a deal that costs them nothing in transfer fee, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Goretzka is 31 and arrives off several seasons at Bayern Munich, who confirmed his exit at the end of last season. He has never played senior football outside Germany. The Premier League will be his first move abroad.
Things moved fast over the past few hours. Goretzka spoke directly with Unai Emery, and that conversation with the former PSG boss is the one people around Villa Park point to as the turning point.
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Two holes in midfield and days left to fill them
Villa are not buying for the sake of it. Amadou Onana is out injured. Youri Tielemans has gone to Manchester United. Same area of the pitch, twice over, with the window about to slam shut.
Goretzka fits that kind of emergency. He has played big European nights, he costs no fee, and he does not need three months to learn a system. For a club that needs a body in there by next weekend, nobody on the market is quicker to plug in.
Atletico and Tottenham miss out
Villa were not alone in the race. Atletico Madrid and Tottenham had both been tracking the Germany international in recent weeks. Both now go back to their shortlists.
The Birmingham club are not done either. They are still working through attacking options and have already made enquiries about Joshua Zirkzee’s situation at Manchester United.
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