Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been linked with Man Utd.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been linked with Man Utd.
Rumours linking Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez with a move to Manchester United continue to persist as we head towards the first deadline of the summer transfer window.
The Argentine's emotional goodbye to the Villa supporters following their victory over Tottenham Hotspur sparked speculation that he was headed to the exit door. Soon afterwards, United were heavily linked with Martinez having suffered a rollercoaster season with Andre Onana between the sticks.
At this stage, there are no signs that Onana would be leaving the club however a replacement or at least another goalkeeper who can challenge the Cameroon stopper would be desirable. On the surface, Martinez appears to be the ideal candidate to do just that.
He has become one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation, helping Argentina to World Cup glory, and he's won the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards twice in consecutive years. However, what's being overlooked is that, perhaps, Martinez's best days are behind him.
The Villa man, now 32, is unlikely to win the Yashin Trophy again this year and his performances are not much more consistent to that of Onana. In his (potential) last game for the West Midlands club, United fans saw first-hand the issues with Martinez - his rush to the head arguably a contributing factor in his team missing out on the Champions League.
So, if not Martinez, who should United be looking at instead?
Well, the search does not need to travel too far from Old Trafford.
In Liverpool, Jordan Pickford has displayed huge loyalty to Everton, but you wonder if United would be able to test that resolve with an offer this summer. The former Sunderland man has occupied the only role tougher than that of United goalkeeper for a considerable period of time - England's No.1.
After a shaky start, Pickford has grown into the role and clearly has the experience to handle the big occasion that would be thrust at him if he were to move to Old Trafford. Arguably, United would be able to negotiate a cheaper deal for Pickford, as Martinez has four years remaining on his contract, while the Everton shot-stopper has just two years remaining.
Everton's move to Bramley Moore Docks could make things harder for United with Pickford, perhaps, keen to play at their new stadium. But, if United are going to invest their time trying to convince a goalkeeper to sign, then the 31-year-old England number one may make more sense than Martinez.
Jordan Pickford pictured before England's clash with Andorra, in Barcelona. (Image: The FA via Getty Images)
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