In a recent report, Calciomercatoweb stated that Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez is on the radar of Manchester United. It has been claimed that the Red Devils are eyeing a move to land the Villans’ star this summer with the player open to leaving in search of a better challenge.
Martinez’s Recent Form In English Football
Martinez recently managed to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, so it is no surprise that top clubs like Man United are hoping to sign him.
However, the Argentine custodian is having a tough campaign at Villa Park as he has struggled to help the Villans be consistent in the Premier League. Still, Martinez deserves some credit for keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just 32 goals in 24 appearances for the West Midlands club this season across all competitions.
The 30-year-old deserves a pat on the back for averaging 0.6 clearances and 6.4 long balls per game in Premier League football. However, he needs to find a way to improve his ball distribution after completing just 71.7% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Villa Park is set to run out in the summer of 2027. Thus, the Villans have got no immediate need to cash in on Martinez.
Can Aston Villa Head Coach Unai Emery Afford To Lose Martinez?
Martinez is a great shot-stopper as he got fast reflexes that allow him to pull off a few impressive saves at the back. He doesn’t hesitate to put his foot through the ball when needed and has developed a reputation for saving penalties for his side. However, the Argentine keeper has sometimes been guilty of being inconsistent when his teammates are not performing well around him.
Still, there is no denying Martinez’s importance in Unai Emery’s squad at Aston Villa. He remains a safe pair of hands in goal for the Villans, so they simply cannot afford to lose him in the summer.
At 30, Martinez is about to enter the latter stages of his playing career, so his market value might go down in the future.
Martinez seems like he is open to a move away from the West Midlands club. Thus, Emery might be powerless to stop him, especially if a top club like Man United decide to move in for him in the off-season. Maybe, another option for him would be to get a big fee for him and use it to bring in a capable replacement ahead of the new campaign.
