Aston Villa are eyeing a potential move to sign Real Madrid star Andriy Lunin after he finally opened the door to an exit, according to Fichajes.net.
The Villans had a slow start to the season after a difficult summer transfer window, but have picked up their form with four consecutive wins before the international break.
But despite keeping hold of number one goalkeeper Emi Martinez amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, there are still question marks over his long-term future at Villa Park and the club are eyeing up potential replacements, with Ukraine international Lunin a long-time target.
Aston Villa Eye Lunin, Ready to Leave Real Madrid
Andriy Lunin
Lunin, who has been described as 'world-class', has been linked with a move away from the club for a while after finding himself behind Thibaut Courtois as the number one at the Bernabeu.
During the summer the 26-year-old was linked with several clubs, including Newcastle, Villa and Manchester United, but the player was always keen to stay in the Spanish capital in the hope of being able to force his way back into the starting lineup and become their number one.
However, after failing to feature for even a single minute so far under Xabi Alonso, it has now emerged that Lunin has asked Real Madrid chiefs to leave to the club during the January transfer window as he looks to play ahead of the World Cup next summer.
His current contract is due to expire in 2030, but he is ready to leave and Villa have explored the possibility of bringing him into the club should Martinez move on in 2026. Real Madrid want between £20-25m to let Lunin depart, which could prove to be an obstacle to any club interested in a deal.
It's also understood that Real Madrid would want to sign a replacement before they sanction his exit, to ensure they aren't left short in the goalkeeper department for the second half of the season. Los Blancos could look to promote someone from the academy team into the role, but will only do so if they are convinced of their ability to step up.
Lunin is ready to move on, and the Premier League seems to be a likely next destination, but whether Aston Villa can push ahead with a deal remains to be seen.