Aston Villa on verge of signing Andre Moreira from Atletico Madrid as new era begins
Villa are closing in on their first summer signing, as new owners begin their investment in the club
STEVE BRUCE is on the brink of making the first signing of the Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens era at Aston Villa.
Atletico Madrid’s Portuguese goalkeeper Andre Moreira is close to completing a one-year loan deal, with the 22-year-old ready to battle it out with Jed Steer for the Villa No.1 spot.
Moreira has yet to make his Atletico debut despite joining the Madrid giants five years ago.
However he has clocked up 37 appearances in the Portuguese league during five loan periods with various clubs.
The signing of the 6ft4” stopper, who completed his Villa medical on Thursday, is the first sign Villa’s wealthy new owners are prepared to back Bruce with new modest signings as the club look to square their whopping £40million Financial Fair Play deficit.
Villa are currently in Germany where they will finish their pre-season friendlies with a game against Dynamo Dresden on Saturday, ahead of the opening EFL Championship opener at Bruce’s former club Hull City.
The manager announced earlier this week that he would remain at the Midlands outfit.
Thierry Henry had been linked with taking over at the club, in what would have been his first senior club coaching appointment.
Villa have already seen goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, Carles Gil and Jordan Amavi leave for a fee, while Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Terry and Christopher Samba were all released.
Sawiris and Edens are a part of Egyptian consortium NNS Group who bought a majority stake in Aston Villa to save them from potential bankruptcy.