Aston Villa are negotiating a move for former Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka as Unai Emery’s search for another central midfielder takes a significant new turn.
Transfer journalist Matteo Moretto reports exclusively that Villa are in negotiations for the Germany international.
Goretzka is available as a free agent after leaving Bayern at the end of last season, meaning Villa would not need to negotiate a transfer fee for the 31-year-old.
The development comes after Villa missed out on João Palhinha, who had previously been their leading target to add experience to Emery’s midfield.
Aston Villa negotiate Leon Goretzka move
Villa’s need for another midfielder has been evident throughout the summer.
Amadou Onana’s long-term injury left Emery short of a senior option, leading Villa to spend several weeks pursuing Palhinha.
Bayern subsequently rejected Villa’s preferred loan structure before Benfica eventually moved ahead in the race.
Goretzka now provides a very different opportunity.
Bayern officially confirmed earlier this year that Goretzka would leave when his contract expired, with sporting director Christoph Freund saying the midfielder wanted to seek a new challenge.
He eventually departed after eight seasons in Munich.
The German club confirmed Goretzka made 312 competitive appearances and collected 15 trophies, including the Champions League, during one of the most successful periods in Bayern’s history.
Goretzka gives Villa a free-agent alternative
There would be no transfer fee attached to Goretzka, although his salary and any signing-on payment would still form an important part of negotiations.
His experience would also fit an obvious gap in Emery’s squad.
Villa lost Youri Tielemans earlier in the summer and remain without Onana, increasing the importance of Boubacar Kamara, João Gomes and the club’s younger midfield options.
Villa’s wider transfer business has already included substantial changes across the squad, but another midfielder has remained on the agenda.
Moretto’s update suggests Goretzka has now moved beyond a name on the shortlist.
Villa are negotiating for the former Bayern midfielder, giving Emery a potentially high-profile free-agent solution after the collapse of the Palhinha pursuit.
