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Aston Villa are progressing in talks over a deal to sign free agent Leon Goretzka this summer, according to David Ornstein.
The Villans are looking to strengthen their midfield department after losing Youri Tielemans to Man Utd and seeing Amadou Onana ruled out for the majority of the campaign due to a serious knee injury, as they prepare to return to the Champions League.
Joao Gomes has already arrived from Wolves, while Johan Manzambi has also joined and is capable of playing there. But Unai Emery is keen to add more experience to his squad, and the club have now made their move to bring in a Champions League winner as part of an ambitious bid.
According to The Athletic, Villa are hopeful of striking an agreement to sign Germany international Goretzka on a free transfer this summer.
Goretzka left Bayern Munich at the end of his contract, having spent eight seasons with the Bundesliga giants, where he won seven league titles, three German Cups, four Super Cups, and a UEFA Champions League during his 312 appearances.
But he fell way down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany in recent years, and the 31-year-old is now looking for a new challenge. Villa have been looking for a low-cost option and had held talks over a move to sign Joao Palhinha on loan, however he has now agreed to move to Benfica on a permanent deal.
That has seen Villa step up their efforts to bring in Goretzka, with the 73-cap German international holding talks with Emery. A deal was initially viewed as unlikely, but there is now growing confidence that a deal can be done.
There is currently no agreement between the parties, and Goretzka would need to undergo a medical before anything was signed, but Villa are pushing ahead with their move as they believe he can help add leadership, experience, and quality to a side that has lost a number of top stars already in this window.