Aston Villa are set to offer goalkeeper Oliwier Zych a new contract amid interest from Premier League rivals, sources have told Football Insider. Arsenal and Brighton have been linked with the Poland youth international after watching him in action for Villa's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
Aston Villa are aware of the interest in the highly-regarded 20-year-old and are keen to tie him down to a new deal. Zych's current contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but the club are now preparing to offer him a new deal with improved terms. The youngster is yet to make his first-team debut for Unai Emery's side but was named in the squad for their two Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Young Boys.
Zych spent last season on loan in his native Poland with Puszcza Niepolomice, playing 26 times and keeping seven clean sheets. Eye-catching performances in the Football League Trophy for Villa's Under-21s earned him a call-up to the senior Poland national team, although he did not make an appearance.
Arsenal brought in 35-year-old Neto from Bournemouth at the end of the summer transfer window but are still looking for a long-term option to provide backup to David Raya. If Brighton or Arsenal were to agree a deal for the free transfer of Zych, they would be forced to pay a compensation fee due to his age. The fee would be determined by a tribunal and is typically much lower than what a transfer fee would have been.