Sources: Aston Villa plot surprise move for Sevilla star Yassine Bounou
Aston Villa are keeping close tabs on Sevilla star Yassine Bounou, sources have told Football Insider.
The goalkeeper, 31, is the Morocco number one and kept a clean sheet in their goalless World Cup opener against 2018 runners-up Croatia on Wednesday.
It is believed that Villa boss Unai Emery is a huge admirer of Bounou, who plays for his former club Sevilla and is widely regarded as one of the best keepers in La Liga.
Villa's interest is a surprise given that Emiliano Martinez is firmly established as their first choice keeper and has been one of their most consistent players since his 2020 move from Arsenal.
The Midlands giant announced in January that the Argentine had signed a new five-year contract after interest from rival clubs.
Like Martinez, Bounou is also the number one for club and country.
He has spent the last decade playing in Spain and has taken his game to new heights since joining Sevilla from Girona in 2019 on an initial loan deal.
It became permanent a year later and he has now played 120 matches for the club and was instrumental to their 2019-20 Europa League triumph.
Emery won the Europa League in three consecutive years during his own spell at Sevilla between 2013 and 2016.
At Villa, Martinez's understudies are Robin Olsen and Jed Steer.
Swede Olsen joined on loan for the second half of last season before completing a permanent move in the summer of 2022.