In a recent report, The Independent claimed that Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez is on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar. It is understood that Spurs have identified the Villans custodian as an ideal replacement for Hugo Lloris if the French keeper ends up leaving the North London club at the end of this season.
Martinez’s Inconsistent Start To This Premier League Campaign
Martinez has experienced an up and down season at Villa Park so far but has still managed to put in a few solid displays as Dean Smith’s first-choice keeper. The 29-year-old made nine appearances for the West Midlands side in this campaign, conceding 16 goals and securing three clean sheets on all fronts.
The Mar del Plata-born talent has sometimes struggled to be consistent over the past few months. He has even been a bit untidy when distributing possession from the back, based on his pass completion rate of 73.2% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Martinez’s current deal with the Villans runs out in the summer of 2024, so Dean Smith is under no immediate pressure to let him go unless he receives a big-money offer from one of the top clubs like Tottenham next year.
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Can Aston Villa Boss Dean Smith Afford To Lose Martinez?
Martinez boasts decent reflexes and can make some solid saves at the back when his teammates need him to step up the most. He is a dominant presence inside his penalty box and doesn’t mind committing himself when coming out to collect crosses and loose balls.
The Argentine shot-stopper can get a lot of distance from his goal-kicks but needs to work on improving his passing accuracy if he intends to taste success at the highest level. At the moment, Martinez is one of the first names in Smith’s teamsheet.
Thus, the Villans would be wise to keep him at Villa Park for as long as possible. Losing Martinez would leave a massive hole in Smiths’s goalkeeping department that won’t be easy for Aston Villa to fix in the coming seasons. All in all, the West Midlands club would be better off holding firm and retaining the Argentine’s services for the long run.
