Leeds swoop for Arsenal star earning less than 10th of Ozil's wages
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Leeds swoop for Arsenal star earning less than 10th of Ozil's wages

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Leeds United could sign Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal as he just about fits within their wage structure.

The goalkeeper, 27, is named by Athletic journalist Phil Hay in a Q&A as a target to potentially replace Kiko Casilla if he quits this summer.

A agent with knowledge of Arsenal's recruitment operation told Football Insider that Martinez is one of the lowest earners in their first-team squad.

A broadranging wage policy means Mesut Ozil commands £350,000-a-week, while the number two keeper is on a deal worth less than a 10th of that.

Football Insider revealed in April that Casilla, 33, was thinking about a transfer back to a La Liga club following his eight-match racism ban.

Martinez does not have extensive first-team experience despite his age after spending much of his career as a back-up keeper in his nine years at Arsenal.

But he has had spells on loan at Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Getafe, Reading, Rotherham United and Oxford United.

Martinez has also been capped by Argentina at Under-20 level and made 11 appearances for Arsenal this season.

All of those have come in the cups - six in the Europa League and five in domestic cup competitions - as he has been on the bench for all 29 of the Gunners' Premier League matches.

Casilla will miss out when Leeds return to action tomorrow, as he will do for their five subsequent matches.

Loan star Illan Meslier, who is primed to sign permanently, is set to continue in goal.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that

the club are braced for a near-£50million flurry of new signings

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