Chelsea consider move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

Chelsea are considering a summer move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after representatives of the Argentina international offered his services to the club.

Martinez, 33, has an uncertain future at Villa Park after talks over a possible move to Juventus broke down earlier this month. The two clubs had held discussions, but no agreement was reached.

Aston Villa subsequently turned their attention to Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, whom they intend to make their first-choice goalkeeper for the new season, according to The Athletic. Marco Bizot started Villa’s opening Premier League match against Brighton.

Chelsea began the campaign with Robert Sanchez in goal against Fulham, but the Spain goalkeeper made errors that contributed to the home side’s two goals in a 3-2 defeat.

The London club also have 21-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders, who returned this summer after an impressive loan spell at Strasbourg last season. Penders was named among the substitutes for the match at Fulham.

Chelsea’s preference throughout the summer had been to place their trust in the goalkeepers already at the club. However, Sanchez’s performance against Fulham has renewed debate over whether he can lead the side towards its ambitions for the new season.

Any decision over a move for Martinez is expected to depend heavily on the overall cost of the deal. Chelsea do not want to disrupt the long-term development of Penders, who is viewed as a young option for the future.

Martinez’s possible departure would form part of a major period of change at Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne have all left the club this summer.

The Argentina goalkeeper previously played for Arsenal and appointed high-profile agent Jorge Mendes last year in an attempt to find a way out of Aston Villa. Martinez signed a new five-year contract with the club in 2024, although he was also linked with a move away during last summer’s transfer window.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his position, Martinez remained a key player for Aston Villa last season. He made 44 appearances as the club finished fourth in the Premier League and won the Europa League.

That success secured Villa’s place in the Champions League for the following season. Martinez’s form also ensured he remained an important figure for Argentina, having played in all eight of their matches at the World Cup before they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final.

This is the second consecutive summer in which Martinez has attempted to leave Aston Villa. Manchester United held talks over a potential move last season and made an offer to sign him on loan during the closing stages of the transfer window, but the proposal was rejected.

Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in September 2020 and has made 256 appearances for the club. His representatives are now exploring whether Chelsea could provide the next stage of his career, while Chelsea weigh up the financial implications of a deal and the impact it could have on their existing goalkeeping options.