Croatia international Lovre Kalinic has jetted into the UK to undergo a medical with Aston Villa, according to Het Niewsblad.
The Belgian newspaper claims that the Gent goalkeeper has been spotted at Birmingham Airport as he edges closer to joining the Villains in the January transfer window.
Kalinic, 29, was part of the Croatia squad that reached the World Cup final in the summer, although he was an unused substitute in most of his country’s games in Russia.
Good move for Aston Villa?
Kalinic seems like a major upgrade on Orjan Nyland, so this could be a very good piece of business by Dean Smith if he can complete a deal for the January transfer window.
The Croatia international was linked with signing for Villa a few years ago, so he is more than likely someone who is well known by the club’s scouting network and they will have complied a huge dossier on the shot-stopper.
Standing at 6ft 7in tall, Kalinic will tower over defenders and attackers when Villa are defending set-pieces and crosses, which is something that Nyland has been very poor at this season.
This is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
With Kalinic arriving in Birmingham to undergo a medical, it’s safe to say that this deal is pretty much all but done, which is good move by Smith because he needs a new goalkeeper as soon as possible.
Hopefully Kalinic passes his medical and there are no last minute offers from elsewhere because there are bound to be other Championship clubs interested in a goalkeeper of the Croatian’s ability.
This is Futbol rating 9.5/10