Aston Villa 'expected' to complete Emiliano Martinez deal as Tottenham make move
Aston Villa are "expected" to complete the late sale of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez amid Tottenham interest.
That is according to former Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Argentine's future could go right down to the wire.
This comes after the 33-year-old recently saw a potential move to Juventus collapse at the final stages, amid concerns regarding a finger injury he is carrying.
Wyness believes that Villa have conducted their business in the right order, having already secured a new number one in Zion Suzuki, before then trying to move Martinez out the door.
The veteran gloveman has been trying to find a route away from the second city in recent years, and the club have now accepted that he will be sold.
Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Tottenham are now lining up a move for the shot-stopper and are prepared to make advancements soon.
Aston Villa avoid being 'squeezed' over fee
Villa's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that his former club have handled their goalkeeping situation perfectly.
The Scottish businessman feels that they have been able to afford being "squeezed" for a higher fee for Suzuki than the £30million they paid, by ensuring that Martinez was still at the club when the deal went through.
However, speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he made it abundantly clear that he still expects Martinez to leave before the 1 September deadline.
"We've been having this dance before with Martinez about him going or not going. I think Villa have done it the right way round in terms of getting the young number one in and getting him signed first," Wyness said.
"If they got rid of Martinez first, they might have been squeezed a bit further on the fee for Suzuki, so I think they've done that right. That gives them a bit of flexibility now in meeting other terms for Martinez.
"I do expect them to come to a deal and a price for him to go, and I expect that to be done in the next couple of weeks. It could well be a last-day signing, but I do expect him to go.
"He won't be happy being a number two, and I think he's still got a lot to give for certain clubs, and I think his time at Villa is definitely over.
"Last season was a push, the way things happened in the window as well, so I think Villa have done their business the right way, and they'll come to a deal to let him go and get him out of the squad at some stage soon."
Tottenham line up Emiliano Martinez swoop
Football Insider understands that Tottenham have now set their sights on a last-minute swoop for Martinez, as they look to profit from the Juventus deal collapsing.
The Lilywhites have already seen benefits from that deal falling through, and they have been able to offload the out-of-favour Guglielmo Vicario to the Italian giants as a result.
The North Londoners have now turned their attention towards Martinez, as a summer of eye-watering spending appears set to continue.
Spurs have been planning for Antonin Kinsky to be their number one, but they have now seen an unexpected opportunity open up with Martinez.