Emilano Martinez walks down the Old Trafford tunnel after being sent-off.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is being linked with Manchester United.
After finishing with a negative goal difference for the second Premier League season running last term, Manchester United are rightly prioritising the additions of attackers this summer.
United wrapped up their first signing of the transfer window just over a week ago, securing Matheus Cunha's signature from Wolves after triggering his £62.5million release clause. He has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford with the option of a sixth.
United are now in hot pursuit of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo. They tabled an opening offer for the Cameroonian earlier this month, understood to be worth £55m, but it was rejected.
Talks between United and the Bees are understood to remain ongoing and the Reds are confident they will eventually secure Mbeumo's signature. The 25-year-old has informed confidants he wants to move to Old Trafford.
In addition to signing Cunha and setting their sights on Mbeumo, United also want to sign a striker before the start of next season.
They are continuing to be linked with a plethora of centre-forwards, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, but they are yet to have settled on a preferred target after missing out on Liam Delap.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News last month, United are planning to recruit up to four key signings this summer, and attacking reinforcements are their leading priorities.
However, United also have ambitions to recruit a new midfielder and a goalkeeper. The Manchester Evening News revealed back in January that head coach Ruben Amorim wants to bring in a new shot-stopper to challenge Andre Onana for the No.1 spot.
On the ten occasions second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir deputised for Onana in 2024/25, there were several instances where he failed to cover himself in glory, raising doubts about his suitability to be the latter's deputy. Onana, too, has been guilty of committing one too many errors throughout his United career.
Andre Onana has made too many errors at Manchester United. (Image: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images.)
With United tying Tom Heaton down to a new one-year deal, there is a growing expectation Bayindir will leave this summer. It would make sense for him to leave in search of regular game time to boost his chances of becoming Turkey's No.1 ahead of next year's World Cup.
Onana also is not safe from being pointed in the direction of the exit amid United's willingness to sell any member of the squad this summer, meaning it is entirely possible the club could recruit a new No.1 this summer, although the recruitment of a striker has to take priority.
Over the last few weeks, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford. He has improved significantly since joining Villa from Arsenal in 2020, helping Villa get back into the Champions League and winning the World Cup and Copa America (twice) with Argentina.
Turning 33 in September, Martinez is entering his prime years as a goalkeeper. Despite being somewhat erratic at times, just as he demonstrated when he floored Rasmus Hojlund on the final day of the Premier League season at Old Trafford last month, he has banked more credit than Onana has over the last few years.
If United were to swoop for the Argentine, they would be doing so with a view to making him their first-choice goalkeeper, meaning they may have to sell Onana. The former Inter Milan shot-stopper will not be content with warming the bench.
If United swoop for Martinez and bring him to Old Trafford this summer, he would become the first goalkeeper they have signed from a Premier League rival to become their No.1 since Edwin van der Sar in 2005.
Edwin van der Sar joined Manchester United 20 years ago. (Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
The legendary Dutchman joined United from Fulham 20 years ago at the age of 34 and remained United's No.1 up until his retirement at the end of the 2010/11 season.
United have already demonstrated through the addition of Cunha and pursuit of Mbeumo they are prioritising signing proven Premier League players this summer, meaning it is not beyond the realms of possibility they may also look closer to home when attempting to sign a goalkeeper.