Sources have noticed ESPN FC that Aston Villa is looking for £12 million (about $19.3 million) with the transfer of captain Ron Vlaar to another club.
Vlaar, 29, has scored two goals for Villa in 63 appearances since he arrived at the team in 2012. He made his Netherlands senior team debut in 2005, and since then, he’s made 31 caps and netted one goal in the international play.
Arsenal and Manchester United are the two main suitors, although it’s conceivable that other financially-set clubs could seek the defender’s services.
But it seems that Vlaar has a special affinity to United, where his national team manager with the Netherlands, Louis van Gaal, sits in charge. The center back did enjoy an noteworthy run at the 2014 World Cup, even though Oranje’s World Cup title hopes were cut short by Argentina in the semi-finals.
In the summer of 2015, the former Feyenoord player will have his contract at Villa expire, in which case he can be acquired on a free transfer. Given the Red Devils’ problems in the central defense, Van Gaal wants to shore up the deal as soon as possible, as he hopes to snag the Dutchman at the opening of the January transfer window.
ESPN noted that both Van Gaal and Vlaar “already agreed personal terms on a provisional basis.”