Aston Villa ‘close in’ on Serie A swoop as attention turns to summer transfer window

Aston Villa are reportedly close to making goalkeeper Robin Olsen’s stay at Villa Park a permanent one.

Football Insider reports that talks are well underway to extend the 32-year-old’s time at the club, where the Sweden international of 56 caps has been on loan since January from AS Roma.

After arriving in the last transfer window, Olsen has yet to play for Villa, but that will not stop Steven Gerrard from extending the experienced shot-stopper’s time at the club, with staff said to have been impressed by the former Everton goalkeeper’s professionalism and commitment.

Olsen is out of contract in 2023 and a move could suit all parties, if the goalkeeper accepts competing with established no.1 Emiliano Martinez.

Former Arsenal keeper Martinez has played well after a standout first season after switching from the Emirates, but Villa have lost their last four games and slipped out of the top half of the Premier League.

Gerrard may consider changes to his side between now and the end of the season, and it remains to be seen of Olsen will get a chance to play before the 2021/22 campaign ends.

Villa, meanwhile, are expected to be busy this summer as they look to bolster their squad to attack the European-qualifying Premier League places next year.

The Villans’ boss was pictured in France this week and the former Liverpool captain is believed to have been watching defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who is available as a free agent this summer.A centre-back is also believed to be on the manager’s wish list for the next campaign too.

Gerrard told Gary Neville’s The Overlap YouTube show recently: “I think we’ve got to believe, collectively you’ve got to believe. It can’t just be me and my staff believing.

“So we’re hoping that with time, our support staff, from top to bottom... from the top of the club they are super ambitious, they are super ambitious. My CEO Christian Purslow is very ambitious, my sporting director is very ambitious, I am and my staff are

.“And the group are, but the reality is that we still need support, I’m hoping that with that we can keep getting better, keep evolving, keep training, keep believing, keep getting better and hopefully we can go and do that.”