Aston Villa WILL listen to offers for Emiliano Martinez this summer with the World Cup winner keen to play in the Champions League… with Villans hoping he’ll become one of the world’s most expensive goalkeepers to fund a summer rebuild
Aston Villa would consider offers for Emiliano Martinez this summer though are set to demand a high price for their World Cup winner.
Martinez has made clear his ambition to win the Champions League and while Villa are under no financial pressure to sell, Sportsmail understands they are not closed to the idea of doing so.
The 30-year-old was named goalkeeper of the tournament thanks to his spectacular displays last winter in Qatar, where he helped Argentina lift the trophy for the third time in their history.
Yet both Martinez and his representatives have made clear that he would like to play in Europe’s top club competition.
While Martinez added that he would like to do so with Villa, there is little chance of that this season, and Villa have not finished in the Premier League’s top 10 since 2011.
Aston Villa will listen to offers for goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the end of the current season
Unai Emery is thought to be keen on a sweeper-keeper in the style of Manchester City’s Ederson
Villa coach Unai Emery’s ideal is to have a ‘sweeper-keeper’ in the style of Manchester City star Ederson.
While Martinez is steady at this aspect of the game, his strengths are his shot-stopping, his presence and his command of his penalty area.
The stance on Martinez has nothing to do with his shaky display against Arsenal last Saturday, but is based on an assessment of Villa’s long-term objectives.
Since splashing about £150million after promotion in 2019, Villa’s transfer net spend has been relatively modest.
Emery will be backed to reshape the squad this summer and this is likely to be balanced by player sales.
Martinez was bought for an initial £16m three years ago and is one of the players in the Villa squad guaranteed to generate a healthy profit.
The most expensive goalkeeper in history is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined Chelsea in 2018 when the Blues paid Athletic Bilbao his £71m buy-out clause. Alisson moved to Liverpool the same year for £65m.
Any fee high…