Martinez’s Future at Villa: Transfer Speculation Amidst Performance

Emiliano Martinez has been a standout performer as Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, yet his future remains a topic of considerable transfer speculation. At the conclusion of the previous season, the 33-year-old appeared to bid farewell to Villa fans, igniting discussions about a possible move to a new club.

Manager Unai Emery offered a more cautious perspective during that period, stating, “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don’t know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”

Despite the fervent speculation, no transfer ultimately materialized. Reports suggested that Martinez was a target for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim; however, the club opted to sign young Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens instead. Additionally, previous interest from the Saudi Pro League did not materialize, leaving Martinez still a vital part of Villa’s squad. He has participated in 21 matches this season, significantly contributing to the team’s rise to third place in the Premier League.

Although Martinez may be contemplating a transfer, a challenge he faces is his new contract with Villa, signed in August 2024, which has over three years remaining. This situation could compel the club to demand a substantial transfer fee, particularly given Villa’s financial constraints in recent years.

Interest from Serie A is on the rise, with Inter Milan expressing a desire to acquire Martinez. Reports indicate that Inter has been pursuing him since December, intending to secure his services during the January transfer window. Villa is reportedly open to the prospect of selling the World Cup winner, and Gianluca Di Marzio has noted that Inter has initiated discussions with Martinez’s representatives regarding potential contract terms. Inter is looking to replace their current number one, Yann Sommer, whose performance has failed to convince manager Cristian Chivu, and whose contract is set to expire this summer.

A potential hurdle in this deal is Martinez’s relatively high salary at Villa; he may need to accept a pay cut to facilitate a move to Inter.

Should Martinez depart this month, it would leave Villa without his charismatic presence and decisive mentality, presenting a challenge for the club. Given the tight financial situation at Villa Park, sourcing a suitable replacement in the transfer market could prove difficult, potentially forcing the team to rely on backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot for the remainder of the season.

This season, Martinez has missed several matches due to injury, granting Bizot the opportunity to play in ten games so far in the 2025-26 season. Out of those, five have been in the Premier League, where the 34-year-old Dutchman has kept one clean sheet while conceding eight goals.

After a remarkable start to the campaign that led to discussions of title contention, Villa has faced challenges in maintaining consistency since the onset of the new year. Following a victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, they experienced an unexpected home defeat to Everton, with Emery later asserting that his team is not contenders for a top-five finish due to the presence of clubs with “more potential.”

On the other hand, Inter currently leads Serie A but must secure a victory in their final Champions League group match to qualify automatically for the knockout stage, following a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal that left them in ninth place before the latest round of fixtures.