Unai Emery must decide whether to start Emiliano Martinez against Everton after the goalkeeper tried to force a transfer away from Aston Villa.placeholder image
Unai Emery must decide whether to start Emiliano Martinez against Everton after the goalkeeper tried to force a transfer away from Aston Villa. | AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd have been linked with another new goalkeeper but should Emiliano Martinez still be at the top of the shopping list?
Manchester United have invested heavily in the first team so that Rúben Amorim has the sort of squad needed to compete at the top end of the Premier League.
Man Utd should move on from Emiliano Martinez
One position that seemed an obvious area to improve was in goals with Andre Onana leaving on deadline day and Senne Lammens signing from Royal Antwerp. Peter Schmeichel was impressed with his Old Trafford debut, however, there are reports that United are still looking for a more experienced no.1. The name that was in the headlines all summer was Emiliano Martinez who put his Aston Villa career on hold waiting for United to offer a fee to the Midlands outfit.
As a player declared as the best in the world with a series of personal accolades, the Villa veteran would appear on paper to be exactly what United need. There is one major issue with signing Martinez though, he would want reassurances that he is the first choice. The other problem, is that Villa might not want to sell. There is another option in the Premier League who has five clean sheets in seven appearances. He is also out of contract in the summer of 2026 and potentially on the move.
Nick Pope has been a reliable last line of defence for Newcastle United for the last three years but that status is under threat with the Magpies signing Aaron Ramsdale and suggesting that they are looking for a replacement for the 10-times capped England international.
At 33, Pope is a similar age and profile to Martinez but wouldn’t have the same ego and act as a solid mentor and competition for Lammens rather than making the summer signing a backup.
Pope on where he wants to play
Pope must have raised an eyebrow when Newcastle signed Ramsdale with the former Burnley man explaining how he sees his future on Tyneside, as told to The Chronicle: “I could quite easily finish my career with Newcastle, I don’t want to sound like an idiot but I feel like I am a really good goalkeeper and have played a lot of Premier League games.
“I know myself and I am looking forward to things now. We go into the Champions League again and that’s where I want to play. I know Aaron from England, he is a good lad and a good keeper. He is coming in to improve the squad. He is a good character and the last few years that is what we have been built on, that is our squad.”
According to WhoScored, Pope has been the best keeper in the Premier League so far this season and is the highest rated of those who have played week in, week out, with money needing to be spent elsewhere, a Bosman move for a safe pair of hands makes a lot of sense.
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