Arsenal interested in Aston Villa goalkeeper Oliwier Zych
|Arsenal are one of the Premier League clubs tracking Aston Villa goalkeeper Oliwier Zych ahead of a potential transfer move, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Gunners have scouted the 20-year-old and are now weighing up a move, but they will face competition from Brighton & Hove Albion and a couple of English top-flight clubs looking for a number 2 goalie.
Zych is yet to make his senior team debut for Villa, but he has played in the Football League Trophy, and his eye-catching performances for Villa’s Under-21 side have seen him earn a call-up to the senior Poland squad.
Arsenal brought in 35-year-old Brazilian Neto from Bournemouth on a season-long loan during the closing hours of the summer transfer window, but he is not seen as a long-term option, and they are keeping tabs on the Villa sensation.
They have 18-year-old summer signing Tommy Setford as an option in the goalkeeping department, while 16-year-old Jack Porter played in the Carabao Cup victory against Bolton Wanderers last month.
However, the Gunners are keeping tabs on Zych, and they can sign him on a pre-contract in January as he has less than a year left on his current contract.
There have been enquiries over his situation ahead of 2025-26, and he is expected to be one of the sought-after young goalkeepers.
Villa would receive a compensation set by a tribunal should Arsenal snap up their Polish goalie, but getting him to join them could be tricky as he would prefer to move to where he can play regularly and continue his development.
Zych could leave the Midlands club as Australia international Joe Gauci is currently the back-up to first-choice Emiliano Martinez, but whether the Gunners have a chance of landing him remains to be seen.