Lindelof signs for Villa as Elliott and Sancho loan moves edge closer

Aston Villa have confirmed the arrival of former Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof on a two-year contract. 

Lindelof arrives at the club as a free agent following the expiry of his contract with United at the end of last season and bolsters Unai Emery's defensive ranks. 

The 31-year-old spent eight years at Old Trafford, making 284 appearances across all competitions as well as lifting both the EFL Cup and FA Cup. 

Since his arrival in England from Benfica in 2017, no player has made more clearances for the Red Devils in the Premier League than Lindelof (630). 

Indeed, only Harry Maguire (546) has won more aerial duels in the top flight for United than Lindelof (370) during that timeframe. 

Lindelof becomes Villa's fourth arrival of the summer, following Marco Bizot, Yasin Ozcan and Evann Guessand through the door at Villa Park. 

But Villa appear set for a busy deadline day, with Emery stressing the need for additions after he watched his team slump to a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. 

The Villans are the only team in the Premier League this season yet to score a goal, and they have aimed to combat that by pursuing two exciting loan deals. 

Reports emerged on Monday that the club are exploring loan deals for Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Manchester United's Jadon Sancho before the deadline.

Elliott has expressed his desire for regular first-team football at Anfield, but now seems set to move on.

It is believed that the deal for the 22-year-old will include an obligation to buy for around £35m. 

Sancho, meanwhile, has been linked with a move away from United all summer, having spent the last 18 months on loan at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea respectively. 

The England international also reportedly turned down the chance of a move to Roma earlier in the window. 

It does not appear that Man United will be pushing ahead with a move for Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, though.

Martinez missed Sunday's loss to Palace due to speculation over his future.