Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen has reportedly agreed terms with his next club as he’ll leave us when his current contract expires in the summer.
The 35-year-old joined us in an initial loan deal from Roma in January 2022 before his switch was made permanent at the end of that campaign, and he has since gone on to make 21 appearances in a Villa shirt.
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While he hasn’t always convinced between the posts, the experienced stalwart has been a trusted back-up option behind Emiliano Martinez throughout his time with us and by all accounts has been a top professional, but it appears as though the time is now right for both parties to go their separate ways.
According to Sportbladet, he is expected to rejoin Malmo this summer when his current Villa contract expires, having enjoyed a successful stint in his homeland with them previously, as it’s reported that he has agreed a contract ahead of returning when the current campaign concludes.
That in turn will give the Swedish international an opportunity to play a more prominent role, but from a Villa perspective, it opens the door for the younger crop of goalkeepers at the club to stake their claim to move up the pecking order ahead of next season.
Naturally, there is also the possibility that Villa look to the transfer market to bolster that area of the squad, but the likes of Joe Gauci and Oliwier Zych will certainly head up the list of internal options as they hope to have impressed and gained Unai Emery’s trust.
Gauci is currently out on loan at Barnsley, albeit the 24-year-old Australian international has been limited to just five League One appearances thus far due to injury, while Zych is back in the senior squad at Villa and will likely be closely monitored in the coming months.
Time will tell how the situation plays out, but it certainly does feel as though it’s the right moment for a change in that department, and with early clarity over Olsen’s future, provided that the report above is accurate, it gives Villa plenty of time to plan ahead and make the best decision for the squad moving forward.
