'Here we go!' - Fabrizio Romano says flight and medical booked for £21m Aston Villa target to join rival club

Unai Emery is set to miss out on his number one defensive target as Feyenoord star Lutsharel Geertruida is reportedly closing in on a move to Red Bull Leipzig.

The Bundesliga side, recently drawn as one of Villa’s four away opponents in the UEFA Champions League, have reached a full agreement with Feyenoord and the player ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

Transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has dealt the deal the ‘here we go’ slogan, reporting a package in excess of €25 million (£21 million) has been agreed for Geertruida to join Leipzig. It’s stated the Dutchman, who was always the first choice target, has already been booked in for a flight and medical.

Villa will be gutted as Emery is keen on bringing in a new versatile defender who can play at centre-half and right-back. Geertruida certainly fits that mould and it’s understood the Villans had held talks with Feyenoord over several weeks.

The 11-time Netherlands international has also been heavily linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal this summer after four successive impressive campaigns in the Eredivisie. Geertruida, versatile and reliable, has racked up 272 appearances across all competitions for Feyenoord.

It awaits to be seen if Villa will move onto other targets after missing out on Geertruida, but bringing in a right-sided defensive reinforcement is definitely the priority before Friday’s 11pm deadline. It’s understood to be unlikely that Emery will get his wish of signing an attacker despite summer-long pursuits of several players in that position.