Sources: Chelsea turn their attention to Emiliano Martinez as transfer plan revealed

Chelsea are exploring a deal for Emiliano Martinez as they line up a move to sign a new goalkeeper before the deadline passes, sources have told Football Insider.

The Blues' hierarchy want a new stopper signed as they look to provide Xabi Alonso with a top class number one.

Robert Sanchez started between the sticks against Fulham on Monday night, but made a catalogue of errors despite Chelsea's 3-2 win.

Chelsea's BlueCo hierarchy admire his back-up, Mike Penders, after an impressive loan stint at sister club Strasbourg, but he is not deemed to be quite ready to step up and be Alonso's first choice.

Martinez has emerged onto their radar as he pushes to leave Aston Villa for a second successive summer window.

The Argentine stopper missed out on Villa's opening game of the season against Brighton due to an apparent lack of match fitness.

Chelsea eyeing Emiliano Martinez transfer before summer deadline

Martinez, 33, has been heavily linked with an exit from Villa since the end of the 2024-25 campaign, but he failed to secure a move away last summer.

His future at the club has been plunged into further doubt over the last week after they completed the signing of Parma stopper Zion Suzuki.

He did not feature in any pre-season games for Villa after helping Argentina reach the World Cup final, and thus also missed out on Sunday's trip to Brighton.

Sources exclusively revealed to Football Insider last week that Spurs have contacted Martinez's representatives over a possible move to sign him in the latter stages of the summer window.

Chelsea have now joined the race for his services, and may look to make a concrete approach in the coming days.

Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson could head to Aston Villa in the next week

While Martinez may move to Stamford Bridge, sources have told Football Insider that Villa want Delap and Jackson to move in the opposite direction.

They have already completed one deal with the Blues this summer, after Alejandro Garnacho arrived at Villa Park on loan for the season.

Delap and Jackson are each available for transfer as they train away from Alonso's first-team squad.

The race is on for their services, particularly Delap, as Nottingham Forest advance in talks to sign him.