Aston Villa’s search for a a new goalkeeper as seen them have a serious look at Sunderland’s Vito Mannone according to a report from Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio via the Sunderland Echo.
Mannone had started the season as the number one at the Stadium of Light but ended up losing his place to rising star Jordan Pickford and is now looking for a way out of the club so he can get back to playing regular first team football.
And one team who are interested in helping Mannone leave Sunderland is Aston Villa who have made no secret of the fact they are looking to sign a new goalkeeper in the upcoming January transfer window. Since his appointment as their head coach, Steve Bruce has not been impressed with Pierluigi Gollini and he could be set to be shipped back to Italy to play for Juventus. This means that signing a new keeper has been made into Aston Villa’s number one priority.
Already they have been linked with the likes of Eldin Jakupovic and Keiren Westwood but Bruce is now reigniting his interest in Mannone. Back in 2012, Bruce had tried to sign the Italian for Hull City from his previous club Arsenal but now four years on, he aiming to bring him to Villa Park to help in their attempt to get promoted.
Unlike some of the other deals that Aston Villa have been rumoured to be doing this January, this would be a permanent deal as Mannone reportedly does not want to play second fiddle to Pickford any longer and wants his future away from Teesside secured.
