Unai Emery’s Aston Villa could move for Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega as a replacement for Emiliano Martinez.
According to Graeme Bailey via TBR Football, Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega is one of the names on Aston Villa’s shortlist as they look to prepare for Emiliano Martinez’s potential departure on transfer deadline day.
The Argentine World Cup winner could be heading to Manchester United, forcing Aston Villa to push for the signature of Manchester City’s backup shot-stopper. Martinez joined Villa from Arsenal back in 2020 in a deal worth £17 million. He has only gone from strength to strength since.
The 32-year-old has done wonders for both club and country, and he is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. While the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner still has four years left on his deal, his future has been a massive talking point since the start of the summer.
Martinez is keen on trying a new challenge in the final phase of his career, and Manchester United have emerged as a potential destination. The Red Devils have reignited their pursuit of the Argentine goalkeeper in the final hours of the window.
The 32-year-old has given the green light to the move, and Manchester United are now looking to strike a deal with Villa. While the Birmingham-based club are reluctant to let him leave, they might not want to keep Martinez against his wish.
Ortega to replace Martinez at Villa
As a result, they have started to prepare for his potential departure. Aston Villa are looking at potential replacements, and Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega is quite high on their wishlist. While he has been a backup option under Pep Guardiola, the 32-year-old has always delivered when he has been asked to cover for Ederson.
His impressive track record in the English top flight suggests he could be of great help to Villa. With his contract running out next summer, Unai Emery’s team could secure his services for a bargain fee. Meanwhile, Manchester City could open the door for his departure, having re-signed James Trafford.
The next few hours could be decisive in this transfer saga. It remains to be seen whether Martinez secures his move to United and, if he does, who Aston Villa will bring in as his replacement.