Emi Martinez now set to stay at Aston Villa

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·7 December 2023

Emi Martinez now set to stay at Aston Villa

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has kicked on since signing for the Midlands club and journalist Dean Jones has now provided an update to GIVEMESPORT on his future, discussing some potential friction between him and the management.

Martinez has attracted interest from other clubs in the past and his displays at the World Cup has raised his profile in the game. The former Arsenal man won the international tournament with Argentina and also received the Golden Glove award. This season, Martinez has continued his fine form and is a key reason behind Villa's early success, especially in the Premier League.

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Unai Emery's side found themselves sitting in fourth place in England's top flight before their fixture against Manchester City on Wednesday night, which is a sensational achievement considering some of the sides competing for Champions League places.

Emi Martinez has attracted interest

After winning the World Cup and becoming a key player for the Villans, other sides were bound to have their heads turned by the Argentine goalkeeper. Journalist Ben Jacobs previously told GIVEMESPORT that Chelsea were keeping an eye on Martinez ahead of the most recent summer transfer window. The Blues opted to bring in Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion in the end, so a move for Martinez failed to materialise.

Reports have also suggested that Bundesliga side Bayern Munich are monitoring the Villa number one ahead of a potential move. Despite interest from some of the biggest clubs around Europe, Villa Park could be the ideal place for Martinez to be at the moment. The Midlands club are competing in Europe and are chasing the Champions League places, so leaving might not be in his best interests.

Martinez's £120k-a-week contract doesn't expire until 2027, so Villa are in a strong negotiating position if an interested club does come to the table with an offer. With Villa in Europe and pushing to finish in the top four, they are under no pressure to sell certain players and instead are likely to continue strengthening their squad in the upcoming transfer windows.

The Argentina international won't want to depart and become a number two at another club, so remaining at Villa Park appears to be the more likely conclusion to his future.

Dean Jones verdict

Jones has suggested that if Martinez was to leave Villa, he would have expected it to happen by now when his value was at its peak after the World Cup. The journalist adds that there were previous doubts surrounding the future of Martinez with some potential friction between him and the management, but he's stayed to this point and Villa are in a strong position. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said...

"I think he was if he was going to leave, he'd have gone by now. It would have happened last summer when his value was at its peak on the back of winning the World Cup. There was some real doubt for a moment about whether he would stay and even whether there might be some friction between him and the management. But the fact he stayed here to this point, the fact that Villa are in Europe, they're competing to qualify for Europe again, and knocking teams out of the top four, Villa is a good place to be right now. I don't see Martinez going anywhere."

Unai Emery faces fight to keep hold of stars

Although Martinez could be set to remain at the club, Emery will have to be careful not to lose some other key players. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that Arsenal have Douglas Luiz on the top of their shortlist as we head towards the January transfer window, but Emery has no plans to allow him to depart.

As per The Telegraph, another player Emery will be fighting to keep at the club is Ollie Watkins, with Manchester United reportedly interested in the striker. Villa are in a strong position in the table and recently beat the Premier League champions Manchester City, so the likes of Luiz and Watkins might be happy plying their trade at Villa Park for now.