Arsenal track Aston Villa goalkeeper as contract runs down

Arsenal are tracking Aston Villa goalkeeper Oliwier Zych as he runs down his contract with his current club, according to a report.

Aston Villa signed Arsenal academy goalkeeper Owen Asemota over the summer, and the Gunners could now look to return the favour by snapping up highly-rated young keeper Oliwier Zych.

Mike McGrath reports for The Telegraph that Arsenal and Brighton are tracking 20-year-old Zych, scouting him and weighing up a move in a future window.

The goalkeeper’s contract expires in 2025, and there have already been some enquiries over his situation.

Given Zych’s age, he wouldn’t be available for free. Villa would receive compensation, and if it couldn’t be agreed with the buying club, it would be determined by a tribunal.

That was the case with Asemota, with Arsenal receiving £1m compensation when the player made the move to Villa, despite the fact the 16-year-old’s contract had expired.

Zych has made a few appearances in Villa’s first-team squad this season, making the bench against Wycombe in the League Cup and Leicester City in the Premier League, as well as Young Boys and Bayern in the Champions League.

But he’s only made it onto the pitch for Villa’s u21s, playing in the EFL Trophy against Fleetwood Town and Bolton Wanderers.

Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation is up in the air at the moment, with Neto only joining on loan from Bournemouth for the season.

The Gunners made an effort to try and sign Joan Garcia over the summer, and they may return for the Spaniard next year. But if Espanyol continue to insist on the goalkeeper’s €30m release clause, Arsenal could look elsewhere for a backup to David Raya.

Perhaps Zych would be keen on the opportunity to be that backup, with Joe Gauci holding the second-choice spot at Villa.