Aston Villa are on the verge of completing the signing of Germany international Leon Goretzka on a free transfer, with talks between the two parties described as positive. The 31-year-old midfielder has been without a club since departing Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
The move would represent a significant boost for manager Unai Emery, who has been actively seeking reinforcements in midfield following the news that Amadou Onana will be sidelined until next year after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with Belgium at the World Cup.
Goretzka was not Villa's only midfield target this summer. The club had also shown interest in another of his former Bayern colleagues, Joao Palhinha, but the Portuguese international now looks set to join Benfica instead, leaving the door open for Villa to press ahead with their pursuit of Goretzka.
During his eight-year spell at Bayern Munich, Goretzka established himself as a key figure, making 312 appearances and contributing 51 goals for the Bavarian giants. His trophy cabinet includes seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League, which he won in 2020. On the international stage, he has earned 73 caps for Germany and featured three times for his country at this summer's World Cup.
His vast experience would be a welcome addition to a Villa squad that has undergone significant changes over the transfer window, losing several key players. Ezri Konsa completed a move to Arsenal for an initial £51m, while Morgan Rogers departed for Chelsea in a deal worth £117m. The club had already parted ways with Youri Tielemans, who joined Manchester United in July, and Lucas Digne, who returned to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding the squad, Emery could not confirm that striker Ollie Watkins would remain at the club beyond the closure of the transfer window, with reports of interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Speaking on Friday, Emery addressed the situation surrounding his forward directly.
"We have an issue with him, it's clear. He is our player. We have had offers for him," Emery said. "I don't want to sell him but it can change because if it's a good option for him and the club and I can replace him in the squad, this is the routine we have and we did before with the players who are leaving."
The comments reflect the balancing act Emery faces as he attempts to reshape his squad amid heavy outgoing interest, while also trying to bring in the right profile of player to compensate for the losses. Goretzka's experience and versatility could prove crucial in helping Villa maintain competitiveness both domestically and potentially in Europe.
With the new Premier League season already underway, time is of the essence for Villa to finalize the deal. The club begins their campaign away at Brighton, a fixture that will offer an early indication of how Emery's revamped squad is shaping up, even as further incomings and outgoings remain possible before the transfer window shuts.
Should the Goretzka deal be completed, it would mark one of the more eye-catching free transfers of the summer, giving Villa a player with proven pedigree at the highest level of European football to help offset the sales and injuries that have reshaped Emery's options ahead of the new campaign.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.