Leon Goretzka has been a target for Aston Villa and Newcastle United, with talks underway with both clubs. However, there now appears to be a winner in the race for his signature.
According to TEAMtalk, Goretzka could be heading to the Premier League for the first time in his career, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United negotiating with the free agent. The former Bayern Munich midfielder and seven-time Bundesliga winner would likely take interest from both clubs seriously, but Aston Villa appear to have moved ahead in the race.
Goretzka is one of the most high-profile free agents available after leaving Bayern Munich when his contract expired. He was a key player for the Bavarian club over many years, making more than 300 appearances, winning seven Bundesliga titles and numerous other honours, including the Champions League once. He scored and assisted regularly, contributing to more than 100 goals across his tenure at the Bavarian club.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United in Leon Goretzka talks
Once it became clear that Goretzka would leave Bayern Munich, reports linked him with several top Premier League clubs. Although high-profile teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal did not make formal offers, Newcastle United and Aston Villa began negotiations. Both clubs are eager to recruit an experienced midfielder, particularly in light of their summer departures.
Both Aston Villa and Newcastle United had been pursuing a midfielder upgrade this summer after losing key players. Aston Villa have seen Youri Tielemans depart this summer and Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury during the World Cup.
If the move goes through, Goretzka’s arrival bolsters Aston Villa’s midfield depth, addressing a critical gap before the campaign begins. Meanwhile, Newcastle United have lost Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in the ongoing transfer window.
Newcastle’s midfield search continues
While the Magpies have chased Goretzka, he appears to be closing in on joining Aston Villa, per BBC Sport. The signing is a setback for Newcastle United, who must now seek alternative midfield targets to address their summer losses. Newcastle had also been linked with Manchester City’s Nico Gonzalez as a potential reinforcement.
Aston Villa also signed Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the summer. With Goretzka now looking like he will arrive at Villa Park, the club’s midfield recruitment could be complete. Goretzka will undergo his medical and sign official paperwork next week.
