Aston Villa have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, bringing the 31 year old to the brink of a free transfer move to Villa Park. The Bayern Munich free agent has already given his consent to the deal, with a medical scheduled for the coming week.
Villa have been searching for midfield reinforcements after seeing Youri Tielemans depart for Manchester United, while Amadou Onana is currently sidelined with a ruptured ACL sustained while playing for Belgium at the World Cup. Unai Emery’s side have already secured the signing of Joao Gomes from Wolves, but a separate move for Bayern’s Joao Palhinha broke down. Now, the club have turned their attention to Goretzka, who shares a dressing room with Palhinha in Munich.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that Villa have agreed terms verbally with the midfielder following a conversation between Goretzka and Emery. The former Schalke man has been given the green light, and a medical is planned in the next few days.
Goretzka made 48 appearances for Bayern last season, scoring five goals, all of which came in the Bundesliga. Over the course of eight seasons with the Bavarian club, he found the net 51 times in 312 matches, lifting seven Bundesliga titles, three DFB Pokals and one Champions League trophy.
Villa will begin their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a visit to Brighton and Hove Albion.
