Atlético Madrid are ready to join the race for Emiliano Martínez should the Spanish club enter the market for a goalkeeper this summer.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport, the Aston Villa keeper has been a target for the Saudi Pro League and is potentially one of the most high-profile Premier League transfers of the summer.
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But Atlético are also understood to also be monitoring Martínez’s situation at Villa Park and would look at a deal if Jan Oblak ends his decade-long stint as No 1 for manager Diego Simeone.
Oblak, 32, is playing for Atlético at the Club World Cup but the Slovenia international has regularly been linked with moves away from Metropolitano Stadium during a period where he has won La Liga and the Europa League.
Martínez, who has won the Yashin Trophy for the past two years and was also named Fifa’s goalkeeper of the year in 2022, is announced as the “world’s No 1” at Villa’s home matches and the World Cup winner is regarded as among the best despite his form dipping slightly last season.
Clubs are monitoring his situation and others at Villa to see if the club needs to comply with Premier League financial rules, which could see players available for the right deal. They sold Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi club Al-Nassr in January, having also sold Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad last summer.
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While Manchester United have been linked with Martínez, it is understood that a deal not something currently being looked at.
Martínez helped Villa qualify for the Europa League next season, although his sending off on the final day of the campaign at United played a part in a dramatic finale, with Emery’s team denied a goal when referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle too early and could not use VAR as a result.
Villa bought Martínez in 2020 and his five seasons at the club has seen qualify for the Champions League, while the 32-year-old has also won the World Cup with his country. They will be in line to make a huge profit on the £20 million package paid to Arsenal, with his market around double his original fee as he has a contract until 2029.
Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, meanwhile, is a target for Championship club Middlesbrough which could see £3 million pure profit for the PSR balance sheet.