Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans react to Emi Martinez amid Aston Villa exit links
Emi Martinez may have handed Aston Villa a boost amid speculation linking the goalkeeper away from the club this summer.
Manchester United currently have Martinez as a top target following the injury to current number one Andre Onana.
Onana will miss Man United’s pre-season tour after suffering a hamstring injury during training, leaving manager Ruben Amorim with few senior options.
Martinez has become one of the world’s best goalkeepers since leaving Arsenal for Aston Villa in 2020, and won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
Pre-season off to a bad start at Villa
Despite speculation linking him with a move away, Martinez posted a picture on his Instagram with team mates Emi Buendia and Pau Torres as Aston Villa embark on their pre-season tour of America.
Martinez captioned the post: “Off to US,” which was liked by fellow Villa team mates Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans.
Villa’s first pre-season match did not go to plan, as the club suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to League Two side Walsall before a 3-1 loss to German side Hansa Rostock.
Unai Emery’s men will face Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt first on the tour and have games lined up against St. Louis and Nashville.
Emery preparing plans ahead of transfer verdicts
Football Insider Verdict
It is a positive that Villa fans have seen one of their key players embarking on the club’s pre-season tour.
Martinez’s presence in-between the sticks at Villa has been a key reason behind their recent success under Emery.
Losing the goalkeeper would be a major blow to Emery’s plans of continuing to challenge for the Champions League places in the Premier League.
| Appearances | 212 |
| Goals Conceded | 256 |
| Clean Sheets | 70 |
A key departure at Villa though may be expected this summer due to PSR rules which is hindering their transfer plans.
Villa has so far not made a major signing and may have to sell first before they can buy, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins among those who could depart.
Nicolas Jackson has been linked from Chelsea, but Man United are also eyeing up the striker and deal may only prove possible if Rogers heads in the opposite direction.
Emery will need to use pre-season to prepare for the worst case scenarios ahead of their league opener against fellow European challengers Newcastle United.