Emiliano Martinez’s Aston Villa exit: Stefan Borson drops ‘surprise’ verdict
Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez appears to be heading for a summer exit after waving goodbye to the club’s fans following their final home game of the season.
Unai Emery was coy on the 32-year-old goalkeeper’s future after the victory over Tottenham on 16 May despite his contract running until June 2029.
Football Insider revealed on 19 May Villa could accept bids of at least £30million for Martinez this summer.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider he is “surprised” the Argentina international could be set to leave Villa Park.
The West Midlands giants have faced profit and sustainability (PSR) issues over the past couple of years after spending close to the allowable losses limit, with top-flight clubs only permitted to lose £105million over a rolling three-year period.
Villa are exploring selling stakes in their women’s team to help them comply with the spending rules, having recorded an £85million loss in 2023-24.
Chelsea sold their women’s team to owners BlueCo last summer for around £200million, helping them turn their previous £90million loss for 2022-23 into a £128million profit for last season.
Aston Villa to prioritise sale ahead of Emiliano Martinez
Borson insisted Villa would likely be keen to sell a stake in their women’s team rather than lose a key player like Martinez.
He told Football Insider: “I suspect they’re just going to do the women’s team.
“If we now assume that the Chelsea valuation is effectively set in stone because of the validation given by the minority stake, then why wouldn’t Villa just do that rather than selling one of their best players, unless they want to sell one of their best players.
“It may be that they actually want to move Martinez on or he wants to go. They did appear to be significant waves to the crowd. It seems to me to be a meaningful loss for them, so I’m surprised, but it does look like that.
“I don’t think it’ll just be a PSR thing because I think now, as I say, and this applies also to other clubs like Manchester United in particular, clubs that have got PSR issues, the window to do the Chelsea women’s move is open.
“Now, it doesn’t work for Uefa purposes, but we already think that Uefa purposes are not that important. We will see over the next few weeks what the fines are for people breaching Uefa financial fair play.
“We expect them to be immaterial and cash-based. Now, if there’s a shock there, then clearly that’ll change the whole calculus.
“But assuming that that’s what we think, clubs are going to focus on doing things like the women’s team sale and keeping key players in the squad.”
| Appearances | 53 |
| Goals Conceded | 61 |
| Clean Sheets | 16 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 |
| Red Cards | 1 |
Aston Villa plot move to sign Harvey Barnes
Former Villa Park chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider Villa are plotting a move for Harvey Barnes, who could be allowed to leave Newcastle United this summer.
Marcus Rashford is expected to leave the Midlands side at the end of his loan spell from Manchester United, with plans already in place to sign a new winger.
Rashford has registered four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for Villa, while Barnes has recorded nine goals and five assists in 40 outings this season.
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