Matija Sarkic has made up his mind to quit Aston Villa – and is close to agreeing terms with a new club.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that the goalkeeper, 22, is keen to take advantage of his expiring contract to leave on a free transfer.
Villa have made a move to extend Sarkic’s contract but he has knocked that back and he is set to leave before this season even finishes.
The Montenegro youth international may even have sealed a move by the end of this week following developments over the weekend.
He has offers on the table from clubs in Britain and overseas.
The keeper has been at Villa since 2015 but has never played for their first team.
He spent the first half of this season on loan at SPL club Livingston but was recalled by his parent club in January when Tom Heaton suffered a serious knee injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Sarkic has made the bench on one occasion for Villa, in an FA Cup tie in January, but has otherwise failed to even make the matchday squad.
Pepe Reina was signed on loan in January and was immediately installed as the number one, with Örjan Nyland his deputy.
With another absentee Jed Steer also on Villa’s books, Sarkic faces being even further down the keeper pecking order if he stays.
Sarkic last month told Montenegrin outlet Vijestri: “I think that there will be little space for a real chance in Aston Villa in the future, so I plan to go, despite the club’s desire to extend my contract, which expires at the end of June.
“Now I am diligently preparing for the status I want, and that is as the first-choice goalkeeper. I figured it was best to go, even though goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler is asking me to stay. That is not an option. There is interest, both in England and abroad.”
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By: Wayne Veysey
Title: Aston Villa keeper makes up mind to quit as he closes in on move
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-aston-villa-22-yr-old-makes-up-mind-to-quit-may-join-new-club-this-week/
Published Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2020 06:00:48 +0000
