Aston Villa have now submitted a bid in the region of £40m for a "top" goalkeeper, with Emi Martinez looking likely to be heading for the exit door, according to a report.
Martinez's days could be numbered at Villa Park
Martinez has taken his game to the next level at Villa Park, scooping up the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award for the second time in three years last December, while also recently winning Premier League Save of the Season for a fantastic stop against Nottingham Forest.
As such, Unai Emery will no doubt be hoping to keep hold of his goalkeeper beyond the summer, but it appears as though the Argentina international could be heading for pastures new, with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid expressing an interest.
According to a report from Spain, Martinez has now 'confirmed' that he will leave Villa this summer, which means a replacement will be necessary, and recruitment chiefs haven't wasted any time identifying a suitable heir.
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Aston Villa book medical to sign forward who Emery feels can be next Duran
He's agreed a four-year deal at Villa Park.
It is added that Aston Villa have made a bid of around £40m for Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who could be the ideal replacement for their current shot-stopper, given his impressive performances in Ligue 1 throughout the 2024-25 season.
lucas-chevalier-lille
There is a belief that Chevalier could be a good fit in Emery's squad, and negotiations over a deal are now underway, with news of whether the Villans' move is successful expected to come in the next few weeks.
"Top" goalkeeper Chevalier is "similar" to David Raya
Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Lille shot-stopper during the 2024-25 campaign, singling him out for high praise and comparing him to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
It is little wonder the Frenchman is held in very high regard by Mattinson, given that he ranks in the 81st percentile for his save percentage per 90 over the past year, while also putting in some top performances for Lille in the Champions League last season.
The 23-year-old made a number of "world-class" saves to keep Borussia Dortmund at bay in March, which will no doubt go into the compilation alongside several fantastic stops in Ligue 1.
Aston Villa will no doubt be looking to bring in a goalkeeper who is proven at the top level to replace Martinez, and Chevalier certainly fits the bill in that regard, so it is exciting news they have now submitted a bid to bring the Lille star to Villa Park.