Aston Villa are close to reaching an agreement to sign Robin Olsen permanently, with a €3.5 million buy option expected to be triggered.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are prepared to trigger the €3.5 million buy option as part of their loan agreement with AS Roma to sign Robin Olsen permanently this summer.
Ason Villa are leaving nothing to time, as the Midlands side are eager to close out essential moves before the transfer window kicks into gear. Having turned Philippe Coutinho’s loan into a permanent deal, Villa have signed Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille while also signing Diego Carlos from Sevilla in a big-money move from Sevilla.
Aston Villa are far from being done in the transfer market though and are looking to bring in more players, as Steven Gerrard targets the objective to break into the top-six next season. Before the market kicks in, the club are looking to secure another essential signing, that of a backup goalkeeper.
Robin Olsen is their preferred target after the 32-year-0ld Swedish international spent the second half of the season as a deputy for Emiliano Martinez. Aston Villa had signed the goalkeeper on loan from Roma in January and have a buy option worth €3.5 million, which could secure his permanent transfer.
Gerrard has been impressed by Olsen’s application in training and wants Villa to trigger the clause to sign him permanently. Roma are reportedly happy to facilitate the deal as they are secure in the position.
Olsen has had an indifferent season after playing for Sheffield United on loan in the first half of the season. After starting 11 consecutive games, the keeper was dropped for the next six ties, as his performances dipped. With a lack of game time, the Championship side were more than happy to let him leave for Aston Villa on loan.
Since arriving in January, Olsen has made just one appearance for Villa, which came on the final day of the season against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men secured a dramatic victory to win the Premier League title in a classic encounter for the ages.
Despite his lack of game-time, Olsen managed to impress Gerrard in training for the club to consider signing him permanently. There is less pressure on the Swedish star on the international stage after his nation failed to secure a World Cup berth. And Aston Villa are unlikely to face any problems in securing Olsen permanently, with the €3.5 million move poised to be completed in the next few days.