Medical scheduled: Aston Villa to seal 21-year-old transfer - reliable journalist

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Published on:

14 Jan 2017, 12:41 pm

By Harry Sykes

Pierluigi Gollini has arrived at Atalanta to undergo a medical and put the finishing touches to a transfer from Aston Villa, according to a reliable journalist.

Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed on his website that the Villa goalkeeper has arrived at the Italian club's Bergamo headquarters to sign a contract.

It is said that Gollini, 21, will put pen to paper on an 18-month loan deal that will also include an option for the Serie A outfit to sign him permanently.

Given the reported length of the contract, there is a strong possibility that Gollini will not play for Villa again.

The Italian joined the Championship club for £4million from Italian club Hellas Verona last summer and was immediately installed as the No1 under ex-manager and his countryman Roberto Di Matteo.

Gollini has made 20 appearances for the Midlands giants but he paid the price for a number of high profile errors when Steve Bruce axed him last month in favour of Mark Bunn.

Bruce has subsequently signed Sam Johnstone on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season and made him the new Villa No1.

Football Insider verdict:

The writing was on the wall for Gollini when Bruce began to eye up replacement goalkeepers early in his reign. Villa fans were unimpressed at the young Italian's ability to deal with pressure cooker of the Championship, with its unique physical requirements. Gollini is a fine shop-stopper with good reflexes but his decision-making proved to be hazy and he failed to command his box. A return to Italy is a sensible move for all parties.

In other Aston Villa transfer news, the club’s £12million-rated attacker is set to quit.

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Aston Villa

Pierluigi Gollini