In a recent report, The Mirror claimed that Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez is on the radar of Atletico Madrid. It is believed that the Spanish giants are eyeing the Villans’ goalie as a replacement for Jan Oblak next year.
Martinez’s Difficult Campaign At Villa Park So Far
Martinez has made a tough start to this campaign as he has struggled to keep clean sheets for the West Midlands club in the Premier League. The 30-year-old has been involved in eight matches for Aston Villa this season, shipping in 11 goals and earning just one clean sheet in the process across various competitions.
The Mar del Plata-born talent has done well to average 5.1 long balls per 90 minutes in Premier League football. However, he was been a bit sloppy with his ball distribution after making 67.7% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
Martinez’s current deal at Villa Park is set to run out in the summer of 2027. Hence, Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard has no immediate need to cash in on him unless a top club makes a big-money offer for his services.
Can Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard Afford To Lose Martinez This Summer?
Martinez has got decent reflexes under his belt and can make some decisive saves at the back. He can be a solid shot-stopper and is a good handler of the ball. The Argentine sensation doesn’t hesitate to come out of his six-yard box to collect crosses and loose balls inside his penalty area. However, his form has been far from convincing this season, so the Villans could be inclined to cash in on him if they receive an attractive offer for him next summer.
At the moment, Martinez remains one of the most important members of Steven Gerrard‘s match-day squad. Hence, the West Midlands club simply cannot afford to lose the Argentine talent any time soon.
Aston Villa would be wise to keep hold of him for the duration of his contract as the South American goalkeeper can help them compete for a top-half finish in the Premier League over the next few years. At 30, Martinez has still got plenty of football left in him to play at a high level. With all things considered, Gerrard should think about retaining the Argentine custodian for the long run as he has become an irreplaceable member of his squad despite his poor form this season.
