Alexander Sorloth
Alexander Sorloth (Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa have been remarkably linked with a move for striker Alexander Sorloth as they prepare to identify and recruit a new centre forward in the coming weeks and months, once the summer transfer window opens.
Villa are expected to replenish their forward line once Marcus Rashford's loan spell ends; the Manchester United forward's future beyond his loan is uncertain, but Villa need reinforcements regardless after the sale of Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the January transfer window.
Unai Emery has leaned heavily on Ollie Watkins since being appointed in the autumn of 2022 but will look to complement the club's new leading scorer of the Premier League era with another striker as they prepare for another bout in Europe next season - although which competition that'll be is yet to be determined.
Sorloth, 29, has previous but disappointing experience of English football; he cost Crystal Palace around £9m when he joined from Midtjylland in the winter of 2018, but didn't score a single league goal in 16 appearances - his only strike for the Eagles came in a League Cup outing.
He was loaned to Trabzonspor in Turkey where he bagged 24 goals and then was sold to RB Leipzig for almost double what Palace paid in 2020. It was only when he moved to Spain in 2023, though, did Sorloth's career at the top table in European football take off.
Last season the Norwegian international netted 23 goals in La Liga for Villarreal last season, before earning a big-money move to Atletico Madrid, where he has since scored 17 more league goals in only 13 league starts. For club and country, he has 26 to his name this term but has often been second fiddle for Diego Simeone.
Sorloth netted four goals in 23 minutes against former club Real Sociedad over the weekend, including three in the space of four first-half minutes.
The towering striker arrived last summer with Conor Gallagher from Chelsea and Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, and Atleti are on course to post another third placed finish in La Liga, but whether Sorloth stays put remains to be seen. There are reports that Villa, and Newcastle United who will entertain interest in Alexander Isak, are keen.
Villa are expected to source another forward this summer.
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