Aston Villa ‘in contact’ to sign World Cup centre-back after securing former Euro giant midfielder

Aston Villa are ‘in contact’ to sign a World Cup centre-back to replace Ezri Konsa after multiple outlets confirmed a European giant midfielder will head to Villa Park, according to insiders.

The Villans have had a busy summer in terms of incomings and outgoings. So far, seven signings have been made, with seven permanent exits confirmed, as well as a number of loans.

The two biggest exits were those of Morgan Rogers and Konsa – the former has been replaced by Johan Manzambi, while Villa are yet to sign a replacement for their recently-departed centre-back.

The Villa reporter for The Athletic, Jacob Tanswell, as well as David Ornstein, have revealed Villa have now made an approach for Ecuador centre-back Joel Ordonez, who’s among the list to replace Konsa.

Indeed, Villa are in contact with his club, Club Brugge, after they saw an approach for Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis turned down.

It’s said Ordonez would likely be more expensive than the Saints man might have been, after he was the subject of an £18million offer.

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Villa agree to sign Leon Goretzka

Work to sign Ordonez comes amid Villa’s negotiations for former Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka.

Tanswell has been among the insiders reporting an agreement in principle is in place to sign the German midfielder, who left Bayern at the end of last season.

Fellow insider Florian Plettenberg has revealed Unai Emery’s role in signing Goretzka.

He states the Villa manager was key in the transfer, personally calling the midfielder to convince him of the club’s project.

Plettenberg says the full agreement in place is for a contract of two or three years.

Goretkza will become the eighth signing at Villa Park this season, and should Ordonez walk through the door, he’ll be the ninth.