Unai Emery has already given Aston Villa transfer stance on Man Utd youngster

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

The 23-year-old is reportedly a target for Czech side Sparta Prague, and Kovar was left out of United’s squad that travelled to America for the club’s pre-season tour, amid claims he was set to re-join Sparta.

Kovar spent the 2022/23 season on loan in Prague, and helped the club win the league title. However, a loan or permanent transfer back to Sparta has yet to be confirmed, and Czech outlet Idnes is now reporting that Villa are considering a move for the United keeper.

Villa currently have Emiliano Martinez and Robin Olson as their goalkeeping options and, speaking in a recent press conference, Emery implied he is happy with those two options and doesn’t plan to bring in another keeper this summer.

“We have two international goalkeepers. Robin Olsen is playing last year with us less matches, but I think he played very well,” the ex-Arsenal manager claimed over the weekend.

“In the Conference League we need to win the first two matches to go in the groups and to play more matches in our season. Then, we have to be ready to be competitive, firstly in the Premier League and then in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as well, trying to get the opportunity to do something.

“We have to play with a lot of players and with the goalkeepers we have to be ready to play with Emiliano, with Robin Olsen and, of course, if something is happening in the season we have to be ready with the young goalkeeper.”

United are willing to let Kovar leave this summer, along with fellow stopper Nathan Bishop, who has attracted interest from Sunderland. The Red Devils are waiting for an outcome on the future of Dean Henderson before making any concrete decisions on Kovar, Bishop or Tom Heaton, who has also been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.