Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez(Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa would prefer to keep Emi Martinez this summer and intend to stand firm despite Juventus' advances for the goalkeeper, BirminghamLive understands.
Martinez has been strongly linked with a move to the Old Lady in recent weeks, with reports in Italy claiming Villa are in talks over a possible deal.
However, the Premier League club are not thought to have entered into any official negotiations with Juventus at this stage.
Last summer, Martinez was open to leaving Villa right up until the transfer window closed, having emerged as an option for Manchester United.
The Red Devils ultimately signed Senne Lammens instead, meaning that Martinez remained at Villa. He quickly refocused on the season ahead and helped Unai Emery's side win the Europa League in May.
The Argentina international also played a key role in securing a fourth-place Premier League finish for the second time in three seasons.
Martinez is under contract at Villa until 2029, but with the goalkeeper set to turn 34 in September, this summer could represent the club's final opportunity to command a decent transfer fee.
He is also understood to be one of Villa's highest earners, but the club's wage bill leaves little room for manoeuvre under the Squad Cost Rules (SCR), which limit spending in relation to revenue.
Martinez has made a total of 256 appearances for Villa since joining from Arsenal in the summer of 2020, and has kept 80 clean sheets across all competitions.
John Townley
John Townley
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