Aston Villa are reportedly advancing in talks to sign defender Victor Lindelof on a free transfer, with a medical touted ahead of the transfer deadline.
The 31-year-old saw his contract at Manchester United expire earlier this summer and he has been searching for a new club this season, with speculation linking him with various clubs in England and Europe.
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However, according to The Times’ Charlotte Duncker, Villa may well have won the race for his signature, as he’s expected to undergo his medical ahead of the transfer deadline on Monday evening.
Further, The Athletic report that Villa are now in advanced talks to sign the Swedish international, with talks progressing significantly over the past 24 hours, while Fabrizio Romano has since added that the deal is being finalised, with Lindelof expected to put pen to paper on a two-year contract.
After spells with Vasteras and Benfica, Lindelof joined Man Utd in 2017 and went on to make 284 appearances for the club, while he’s been capped 71 times by Sweden.
In turn, that experience and leadership could prove to be crucial for the Villa squad, but it’s the fact that he adds vital depth in defence that is perhaps the most important aspect of this move from Villa, as we’re undoubtedly short behind Ezri Konsa in the right-sided centre-half role.
Given there is no fee involved and it’s possible that the defensive stalwart has accepted a manageable salary offer, it hopefully not only allows us to stay on the right side of being compliant with the relevant financial regulations, but gives us enough wiggle room to still go out and make further signings before the deadline in other key areas of need.
Villa have been heavily linked with bringing in a playmaker in the next 24 hours, with Marco Asensio and Lucas Paqueta emerging as the most prominent targets, and so adding Lindelof on a free to solve one issue, could certainly help us strengthen elsewhere too in order to get in the new faces that Unai Emery needs.
Speaking of the Villa boss, we’ve seen him develop and improve so many players over the course of his career, both at the start and end of their respective careers, and so it’s an intriguing move to see if he can help Lindelof establish himself as a solid option when needed this season as we compete on multiple fronts.
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