Chelsea Consider Move for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez
Chelsea are weighing up a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after opening talks with the Argentina international’s camp.
The 33-year-old World Cup winner is understood to be available for transfer following Villa’s £30m capture of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month, a deal that has shifted the dynamics of Unai Emery’s squad and opened the door to serious offers for Martinez.
Another Chelsea–Villa deal on the cards
If Chelsea step in, it would be the latest chapter in one of the most active trading relationships in the Premier League.
The London club shattered their transfer record to sign forward Morgan Rogers from Villa for £117m, while Alejandro Garnacho headed the other way on an initial loan. Nicolas Jackson, valued at around £65m, is another name in the frame, with the striker potentially reuniting with Emery at Villa Park.
The two clubs have not been shy about creative business either. They were central to a deal widely labelled a “PSR swap”, which saw defender Ian Maatsen join Villa and Omari Kellyman, now at Strasbourg, move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea know Villa will deal. Villa know Chelsea will spend. Martinez sits right in the middle of that equation.
Juventus move collapses, Chelsea circle
Juventus tried to land Martinez earlier in the window, only for the move to collapse amid concerns over a finger injury. The Italian side quickly switched targets and brought in Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan instead, leaving Martinez still in Birmingham and still on the market.
That failed switch has given Chelsea an opening at a time when questions around their own goalkeeping situation are growing louder.
Sanchez under scrutiny, Penders waiting
Robert Sanchez began the season as Chelsea’s undisputed number one, but his display in the 3-2 win at Fulham on the opening Premier League weekend has put him under the microscope.
He was beaten at his near post by Josh King’s angled strike, then spilled another effort into a dangerous area, allowing Gonzalo Garcia to score and drag Fulham back into a contest Chelsea had threatened to control.
Xavi Alonso publicly backed Sanchez after the match, framing the discussion around the wider team rather than the individual. Asked again about his keeper before Thursday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town at Stamford Bridge, Alonso stayed on message.
No, (we have had) normal conversations,” he said. “We have talked more about the team thing, about what we did well and what we have to do better.
It was more about understanding the context. Every game is going to be important because we are in this process that we still need to develop things, we need to make adjustments that are more team-related.”
Behind Sanchez, Mike Penders is pushing. The number two returned in the summer from a strong loan spell at Strasbourg and could be handed a start against Luton.
Asked about Penders’ chances, Alonso was deliberately coy. “He's in the squad, so he has an opportunity. We will decide and give the team to the players tomorrow, so I prefer to expect that they know first.”
For now, Chelsea talk about processes and context. Their transfer activity tells a different story: they are not afraid to act decisively. If doubts over Sanchez persist and Villa’s door stays open, how long before Martinez becomes the next big piece in this increasingly intertwined rivalry?
