Emiliano Martinez will be highly sought-after this summer if the goalkeeper decides to leave Aston Villa.
It’s been a good season for Aston Villa in the Premier League, and they also reached the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Villa signed Manchester United star Marcus Rashford on loan in January, but they are unlikely to take up the option to sign him for £40 million at the end of the season.
Unai Emery has done a good job at Villa Park and will be aiming to raise expectations again next season, as long as they can hold onto their best players.
One of their star players is now being linked with a shock move to Old Trafford, although it’s a player who will attract a lot of attention if other clubs find out he is on the move.
Photo by Marc Atkins - AVFC/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins – AVFC/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Emiliano Martinez emerges as Manchester United target
Aston Villa may need to put up a fight to keep Emiliano Martinez at the club this summer.
The World Cup winner is attracting interest from bigger clubs than Villa, according to reports in Argentina.
The 32-year-old joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 – following eight years in North London, where he was sent out on loan six times.
More United News
Now, Martinez is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, after winning the World Cup as Argentina No1 in 2022.
Martinez is under contract at Villa until 2029 after signing an extension in the summer of 2024.
He tearfully waved to fans following Villa’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, which may be a hint that he is on the move this summer.
According to Argentine TV channel DSports, as cited by The Sun, United and Barcelona are both interested in signing Martinez, with both clubs presenting offers to the goalkeeper.
United could be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper this summer if Altay Bayindir leaves in search of regular football.
In addition to that, Andre Onana has struggled since arriving from Inter Milan in 2023 in a deal worth £47.2 million.
Barcelona have been without their first-choice stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for most of the season due to a knee injury. That led Barcelona to urging former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny to come out of retirement earlier this year, before playing 30 times in Ter Stegen’s absence.
What has Unai Emery said about Martinez’s future?
Emery has not been able to give any assurances over the future of Martinez.
Villa fans will be fearing the worst ahead of the transfer window, with Martinez considered a favourite at Villa Park.
The Villa boss was asked about Martinez and Leon Bailey after their last home game of the season, as both players were visibly emotional.
“We will see,” Emery told reporters. “Of course, it is the last match (of the season) here, and I don’t know.
“We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field, at the moment they are responding and they are so, so focused in how we are preparing and playing each match.
“Of course, Leon Bailey is playing now less because other players are responding very well. They are performing well.
“And we are going to play Manchester (United) for the last three points. And for us it will be very important again, to prepare, to be focused everybody.
“And of course, then we will see about everything, how we are going to try to get better for the next season.”
Villa will travel to Old Trafford for their final league match of the season next weekend.