Aston Villa ready to replace 32-year-old star in bold transfer move | OneFootball

Aston Villa’s Goalkeeping Shake-Up: Martinez Future in Doubt Amid Transfer Plans

Summer Rebuild Could See Villa Move on From Martinez

Aston Villa are preparing for another ambitious summer in the transfer market—and it could come at a cost that few fans saw coming. As reported by The Daily Mail, the club are actively searching for at least one new goalkeeper. That development places serious uncertainty over the future of Emiliano Martinez, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper who has become a fan icon at Villa Park.

Photo: IMAGO

Only nine months ago, Martinez signed a fresh five-year deal that cemented his place in the club’s wage elite. His name still echoes around the stadium as ‘the world’s No 1’ before each home game. But as Villa look to comply with Premier League financial rules and make another push for Europe, they may be prepared to part ways with the Argentine—if they can find a younger alternative of equal calibre.

Transfer Strategy Signals Ruthless Ambition

Unai Emery’s side are not standing still. They have been monitoring Joan Garcia, the 24-year-old Espanyol keeper tipped for a breakout move. With Robin Olsen set to depart for Malmo, Villa’s goalkeeping department is already due for change. But the idea of Martinez being sacrificed reflects the ruthlessness underpinning the club’s strategy.

Photo: IMAGO

Martinez is understood to have recently held talks with Gestifute, the agency helmed by Jorge Mendes. Given Mendes’ heavyweight influence—his clients include Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho—the timing of these talks only fuels speculation that change is coming.

Financial Pressure and Champions League Ambition

The situation is also shaped by financial realities. Villa must make a significant sale before 30 June to avoid breaching spending regulations. As the report notes, “The departure of Douglas Luiz to Juventus a year ago staved off the threat of a points deduction.” Martinez could now be seen as the club’s most bankable asset.

Photo: IMAGO

With Jhon Duran already sold and a new striker on the shopping list, Villa’s final league fixtures—against Bournemouth, Spurs, and Manchester United—could define not only their Champions League hopes, but the trajectory of their summer business.

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For Villa fans, this report is both sobering and frustrating. Emiliano Martinez isn’t just a good goalkeeper—he’s a totemic figure. His penalty shoot-out heroics, his charisma, and his emotional connection with the fans have made him a modern-day cult hero at Villa Park. To see his future now hanging in the balance, barely a year after committing his long-term future to the club, will feel like a betrayal to many supporters.

Of course, fans understand the need to operate within the Premier League’s financial framework. But selling Martinez—arguably the best player in his position outside the traditional ‘big six’—to balance the books feels like short-termism at best. Especially when the club is on the cusp of sustained European competition.

Villa’s vision under Emery has been exciting, but dismantling its core for the sake of flexibility could backfire. There’s also the concern that replacing someone as mentally dominant and experienced as Martinez is far from straightforward.

The talk of Mendes and Gestifute suggests that wheels are already in motion. If Villa aren’t careful, they may soon be searching for more than just a new goalkeeper—they could be rebuilding the team’s identity.