Aston Villa are close to signing Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka on a free transfer following his departure from Bayern Munich. The 31-year-old, who left the Bundesliga giants this summer, has engaged in positive talks with Villa, with manager Unai Emery prioritizing midfield upgrades. Goretzka's availability comes as Villa lose key players like Ezri Konsa (£51m to Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (£117m to Chelsea), and Youri Tielemans (to Manchester United).
Emery, seeking to bolster his squad ahead of the Premier League season, has targeted Goretzka after previously pursuing Joao Palhinha, who is set to join Benfica. The midfielder, who made 312 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, scored 51 goals and earned 73 caps for Germany, including three World Cup matches in 2022. His experience could provide stability as Villa replace stars lost this summer.
Villa's summer departures extend to Lucas Digne, who returned to Paris St-Germain, and England striker Ollie Watkins, whose future remains uncertain amid Al-Hilal interest. Emery acknowledged the club's transfer challenges, stating, "We have an issue with him [Watkins], it's clear." Villa's opening Premier League clash against Brighton is scheduled for Sunday.
