Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aston Villa’s transfer plans this summer may hinge on Champions League qualification
With fellow UCL hopefuls Nottingham Forest and Chelsea facing off at the City Ground, Villa know that victory will see them achieve their goal if Enzo Maresca’s side drop points. The Villains can still finish as high as third, with five teams fighting for three Champions League spots on what looks set to be a blockbuster final day.
Villa’s rise from bottom-half dwellers to established European contenders has been rapid under Unai Emery, and this has coincided with the club continuing to cash in on star names such as Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby and Jhon Durán to maintain a healthy financial position and avoid any PSR concerns.
Should Sunday end in disappointment and no Champions League qualification for the Villains, it may end up being a similar story this summer transfer window amidst links away for multiple key members of Emery’s squad. But recent reports have surfaced that one potential transfer may not be as likely as was previously thought.
Manchester United may not pursue a move for Emi Martínez
One star who has been linked with an exit at the end of the season is World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The 32-year-old appeared emotional after Villa’s final home match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, and it is thought that the Argentine may move on to pastures new this summer.
Previous reports had linked the former Arsenal man with a transfer to Manchester United - with Villa thought to be accepting offers above £30m for the goalkeeper - but fresh reports by Football Insider state that Martínez is not a priority for United this summer. While a move is not necessarily off the table, it is believed that the Red Devils are prioritising other positions ahead of a replacement for André Onana in goal. After defeat in the Europa League final to Spurs, Ruben Amorim and the United board have had to reassess their transfer plans for the summer, with a reported budget of around £100m which may not stretch to Martínez.
Martínez’s future remains uncertain
Though Old Trafford may not be his destination, it is still possible that Martínez departs this summer. Atlético Madrid have been linked, as, inevitably, have clubs in Saudi Arabia if a preferred European move for the shot-stopper doesn’t materialise.
Martínez has become one of the world’s best goalkeepers at Villa Park and will be remembered for his time there, having arrived from Arsenal in 2020 after eight years on the sidelines at the Emirates amongst various loan moves in the lower leagues. Martínez has undoubtedly enjoyed the best times of his career as an Aston Villa player, and will have a lot to owe the Birmingham club for the chance they gave him - which eventually led to Martínez starring in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup glory.
Should Martínez depart, Villa must move fast to secure other goalkeeping options. Espanyol star Joan García has been linked with the Villains amongst others such as Newcastle United, whilst Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher may also be available this summer. Villa would face competition for both players, so would likely need to resolve Martínez’s situation sooner rather than later.
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