Chelsea Eye Emiliano Martínez as Goalkeeping Solution

Chelsea have been offered the chance to move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, with the World Cup winner’s representatives sounding out the club as the transfer window heads into its final stretch, a source has told ESPN’s Mark Ogden.

Villa are ready to part with the Argentina international after signing Japan keeper Zion Suzuki, whom they view as their long-term No. 1. The shift is clear: they are planning a future without Martínez.

A move to Juventus earlier this month was supposed to be that next step. It collapsed. Martínez then played no part in Villa’s bruising 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the Premier League’s opening weekend, a glaring omission that underlined his uncertain status.

Chelsea’s keeper question flares up again

Chelsea’s interest has been sharpened by events, not theory. Robert Sánchez’s latest error, a soft shot from Josh King slipping through him in Monday’s chaotic 3-2 win over Fulham, has dragged the goalkeeping issue back under the spotlight at Stamford Bridge.

The club are weighing up whether to act now and bring in Martínez before the window closes, a source confirmed, rather than gamble on internal solutions holding up over a title-chasing season.

The plan, until now, had pointed towards patience. Chelsea hoped 21-year-old Belgian Mike Penders, back from a loan spell at Strasbourg and in line to potentially make his first-team debut against Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, would grow into a serious challenger for Sánchez and eventually take the No. 1 shirt.

But the market has presented them with something very different: a proven Premier League goalkeeper, a seasoned international, and a man who has already stood on the game’s biggest stage and delivered. Martínez was central to Argentina’s World Cup triumph in 2022 and part of the side that finished runners-up to Spain at this summer’s tournament.

For a club openly targeting the title, that kind of profile is difficult to ignore.

Sánchez under pressure, Martínez on the move

Sánchez’s struggles are not a new storyline at Chelsea. Successive managers have questioned his reliability.

Mauricio Pochettino dropped him as first choice in 2024, turning instead to the relatively untested Serbia international Djordje Petrovic. Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior have also sidelined Sánchez at various points, reacting to dips in form rather than building around him as an undisputed starter.

Villa, meanwhile, have been prepared for this moment. They signed Martínez from Arsenal in 2020 for £17 million ($23m) and are now open to cashing in as they try to lower the average age of their squad and reset the wage bill.

Their need to generate funds this summer has been no secret. Morgan Rogers has already joined Chelsea in a £117 million ($159m) deal, while Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne have also departed as Villa work to stay within UEFA and Premier League financial regulations. Offloading a high-value, high-profile goalkeeper fits that broader strategy.

Alonso stands firm on Enzo Fernández

While Martínez’s future hangs in the balance, Chelsea are fighting a different kind of battle over Enzo Fernández.

Manager Xabi Alonso insisted on Wednesday that he expects the midfielder to be involved against Luton despite ongoing speculation over a move. The Argentina international, valued by Chelsea at £120 million ($163m), has been consistently linked with Manchester City.

“Yes we expect that he's involved. He's training really well and he is a good professional,” Alonso said at his news conference.

Pressed on whether he wants the 25-year-old to stay, Alonso did not hesitate. “We want to have the best team possible. We know Enzo and his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait. We'll think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop.”

Alonso also confirmed that Moisés Caicedo and Marco Palestra remain sidelined through injury, but Cole Palmer has been passed fit.

So Chelsea head into the final days of the window juggling two major calls: whether to rip up their goalkeeping plan for a World Cup winner, and how hard to hold the line on one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe.