Aston Villa are involved in a transfer merry-go-round with Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.
Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to join the race to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and could utilise Manchester United to help facilitate a deal.
Villa are still yet to sanction a significant sale to ease concerns over a potential breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and hurrying Martinez’s sale is probably the best bet at this stage. Under PSR, English top-tier clubs cannot lose more than £105 million over a three-year period and Villa are currently around £50 million short.
Not only that, but there are also UEFA’s squad cost rules (SCR) to consider. Clubs in UEFA competitions can spend a maximum of 70 per cent of their revenue on player wages and Villa are in the eighties. If Martinez - one of the highest earners in the squad - were to leave, then Villa would be killing two birds with one stone.
Man Utd have been heavily linked with Martinez over recent months and are understood to have held talks with the goalkeeper’s representatives. Clubs in the Saudi Pro League have expressed their interest, too, though a team late to the party could snap up the World Cup winner’s services instead.
Atletico eye late Emi Martinez swoop
It’s no wonder Martinez, a two-time Yashin Trophy winner, has gained widespread transfer interest and Atletico are the latest club to rear their heads. The Telegraph reports Los Rojiblancos are ready to enter the race to sign the Argentina international if they decide to sell long-serving goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Atletico are said to be monitoring Martinez’s ongoing situation at Villa Park and are preparing for a potential approach. The La Liga giants are of the belief that there are not many better options available on the market if they are to replace Oblak.
Man Utd could trigger domino effect for Atletico and Villa
Put simply, Atletico’s possible swoop for Martinez all depends on Oblak’s future, and Man Utd could help trigger the necessary domino effect in that regard. Reports in Spain last month suggested the Red Devils had added Oblak to their goalkeeper transfer shortlist as they seek to land a major upgrade on Andre Onana.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has reportedly been unconvinced by Oblak’s recent form and has lost confidence in the Slovenian as his first-choice goalkeeper. That’s despite the fact Oblak has been one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers for the best part of a decade, with 225 clean sheets kept in 495 appearances for the Madrid-based club.
If Man Utd are to act on their interest, then the goalkeeping spot at the Wanda Metropolitano could open up for Martinez to join. Villa could then sign a replacement for Martinez after the June 30 PSR deadline – perhaps Lucas Chevalier, whom a bid is reportedly being prepared for. That’s quite the domino run.
Of course, a lot has to happen between now and June 30 for this all to work out, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Oblak signs for United and Martinez joins Atletico. With the interest there for the respective goalkeepers and clubs, the wheels are already in motion. They just need to be accelerated.
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