Emi Martinez, Ruben Amorim
(Credit: Imago)
Villa News Speaking to Bryan King
Mon 2 June 2025 16:10, UK
Aston Villa could be forced to sell key players to balance the books, with the future of Emiliano Martínez increasingly uncertain.
Villa’s well-documented financial struggles mean that they are having to adjust their transfer strategy, which may see them miss out on Marco Asensio.
Unai Emery will be resigned to losing star players to fund incomings, with Martínez one of those widely linked with an exit after he was seen in tears after Villa’s final home game of the season.
The goalkeeper still has four years left on his contract, and recently won the Premier League Save of the Season award, so the Villans will be able to command a high fee for his transfer, especially if he is to make the switch to United.
Unai Emery
Emery is resigned to selling key players to improve the squad’s balance (Credit: Imago)
André Onana’s fee ‘will increase Martínez’s value’
Martínez has grown to become a hero in the Midlands, merited both for his extraordinary talent and his extravagant displays of passion.
The former Arsenal shotstopper has caught the eye of Ruben Amorim, who has likely been less than impressed with his own goalkeeper this season.
Player Appearances Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Errors Leading to Goals
André Onana 34 44 9 3
Emi Martínez 37 45 9 0
Martínez and Onana’s Premier League statistics (2024/25)
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While Onana and Martínez have somewhat similar statistics on the surface, they do not paint an accurate picture. Onana lacks the World Cup winners’ presence and assuredness, while proving far more prone to making mistakes.
Nevertheless, United paid £47.2million for Onana, which former Villa scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – believes will allow Nassef Sawiris to set a steep asking price for Martínez.
“United paid close to £50million for Onana,” King said.
“Therefore, their opening offer for Martínez will need to be around £75million, that is what they will need to offer for somebody of his calibre, and they will probably end up paying more than that.
“If they paid almost £50m for Onana, whoever did their homework on him didn’t do it very well. However, Martínez is a tried and trusted goalkeeper. Therefore, Manchester United will have to pay a minimum of £75m for Martínez.”
United would have to pay a hefty fee to secure Martínez (Credit: Imago)
Villa must focus their budget on goal scorers
Emery will not be pleased to lose one of his team’s talismanic figures, but he will know that securing goal scorers to assist Ollie Watkins is the priority heading into next season.
Jhon Duran’s sale to Al-Nassr prompted the club to sign loan players in Asensio and Marcus Rashford, neither of whom are out-and-out strikers.
Villa are working to address this issue by bringing in Feyenoord youngster Zepiqueno Redmond, but it would be unwise to completely rely on an 18-year-old, so they must continue to strengthen in that area.
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