Premier League club set to sign Leon Goretzka on free transfer after Bayern Munich exit

Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Leon Goretzka, talkSPORT understands.

The midfielder is a free agent having left Bayern Munich earlier this summer after eight seasons, where he won seven Bundesliga titles.

Getty

In total he has featured 327 times in the German top-flight, while also playing in 73 games in the Champions League.

And Villa will be hoping that European experience helps them with the club preparing for their second European Cup campaign in the last three seasons.

Goretzka is also highly experienced at international level having been capped on 73 occasions for the German national team.

And having spent his entire career in Germany, he is now set to test himself in the Premier League with Villa.

The Midlands outfit have turned to the 31-year-old after missing out on his ex-Bayern teammate Joao Palhinha, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

Palhinha ultimately opted to reunite with his ex-Fulham boss Marco Silva in Portugal at Benfica.

And Villa have acted fast in looking to secure Goretzka’s services in what is a major boost to Unai Emery.

He is now set to undergo his Villa medical next week after reaching a verbal agreement with the Europa League holders.

If all goes to plan, he could make his debut against Premier League champions Arsenal on Monday, August 31.

Who have Villa signed this summer ?

Emery has made strengthening his midfield a top priority this window, with Amadou Onana suffering an ACL injury whilst playing for Belgium at the World Cup.

Getty

Youri Tielemans then departed Villa a few days later to Manchester United, so it came as no surprise that they entered the market for midfielders.

Johan Manzambi was signed from SC Freiburg for £52million, and then Joao Gomes was brought in from rivals Wolves in a £38m move.

Elsewhere, left-back Matteo Ruggeri and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki have also joined a dismantled Villa side.

Though key players Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have followed Tielemans out the exit this summer.

Ollie Watkins could also leave before the window slams shut as he wants to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, a long-term target for Villa and ex-player of Unai Emery at Villarreal, could replace him.

Villa are also interested in Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis as they prepare for their Premier League opener away at Brighton on Sunday.