Aston Villa’s negotiations with Leon Goretzka may have emerged late in the transfer window, but the former Bayern Munich midfielder fits one of Unai Emery’s most obvious remaining squad needs.
Villa have already rebuilt much of their midfield following Youri Tielemans’ departure, while Amadou Onana is expected to miss most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
João Gomes has arrived from Wolves but is currently sidelined himself, leaving Emery unusually short of proven senior options at the beginning of the Premier League campaign.
Read Aston Villa reported on Friday night that Villa are negotiating with Goretzka, according to Matteo Moretto.
The 31-year-old is available without a transfer fee after leaving Bayern Munich.
That combination of availability and experience could explain why Villa have moved quickly.
Leon Goretzka offers something Aston Villa have lost
Goretzka is not a direct copy of João Palhinha.
The Portugal international, who Villa pursued for several weeks before his move to Benfica, is primarily a defensive midfielder.
Goretzka has traditionally offered more going forward.
Opta records five goals and three assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season, producing eight direct goal involvements from 1,956 minutes. (theanalyst.com)
That attacking contribution would be valuable in a midfield which has lost Tielemans and remains without Onana.
Goretzka also completed more than 90 per cent of his passes in the Bundesliga last season according to StatMuse, while maintaining the physical profile required to contribute without possession. (statmuse.com)
At 6ft 2in, he would restore some of the size and power currently missing from Emery’s midfield.
Villa have already felt that shortage.
João Gomes’ injury added another problem to a midfield already without Onana, leaving Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Ross Barkley carrying greater responsibility.
Free transfer could help Aston Villa elsewhere
The financial structure may be just as attractive as the football.
Goretzka would require significant wages and potentially a signing-on fee, but Villa would not have to commit another sizeable transfer fee.
That matters during a summer in which the squad is still being rebuilt in several positions.
Villa are attempting to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis after selling Ezri Konsa, while the future of Ollie Watkins could force them into the market for an expensive striker.
Villa’s transfer tracker highlights just how extensive the summer overhaul has already become.
Spending heavily on another midfielder would reduce flexibility elsewhere.
Goretzka potentially avoids that problem.
There is still a significant difference between negotiations and an agreement, and the financial terms of any contract would need to make sense for Villa.
But after missing out on Palhinha, Emery may have found an alternative who solves the midfield shortage without consuming another major transfer fee.
For a squad still requiring work in defence and potentially attack, that could make Goretzka particularly attractive.
