Aston Villa have big new ‘problem’ with Emi Martinez ahead of deadline day
Emi Martinez’ Aston Villa future remains highly uncertain.
In this season’s summer transfer window, Martinez was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.
Martinez was even revealed to have contacted Lisandro Martinez in the hopes of pushing through a move to United, as the Argentina international was evidently set on leaving Villa Park.
However, Martinez’s switch to Old Trafford collapsed, and the summer window went by without a sale being comissioned.
But, that only served to put a brief pause on the transfer rumours, as Martinez’s father revealed in December that he wants to return to Argentina.
Paul Robinson forecasts Aston Villa, Emi Martinez headache
To his credit though, Martinez has still been largely playing well for Aston Villa this season.
He’s conceded 17 times in 19 Premier League appearances so far, and has kept five clean sheets in that time.
This solid form in the Villa goal has helped enable Unai Emery‘s side to get amongst, and indeed stay, in the title fight this term, with the Villans just four points behind leaders Arsenal.
Only Arsenal (17) and Man City (21) have conceded fewer goals in the league than Villa have in 2025-26, so Martinez in many respects is not playing like a goalkeeper who is desperate to leave the West Midlands.
However, transfer speculation is still running wild this winter, with Inter Milan understood to be keen on signing Martinez as well as possible interest from Argentina.
And, speaking via BBC Sport, former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that should Martinez leave Villa Park, it would cause a major problem for them.
“I’m not so sure he is as settled as he was. There may have been a little drop off,” said Robinson.
“He’s a top quality goalkeeper. Would I class him as one of the world’s best? I’m not sure I’d put him in that bracket, but if Villa are looking to move him on or he wants to move, they have a problem.”
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Aston Villa can’t sell Martinez without new signing first
In the five Premier League appearances he’s made this season, Marco Bizot has conceded eight times and kept just one clean sheet.
As such, the 34-year-old Netherlands international hasn’t quite done enough to prove that he’d be a viable starting option for Aston Villa in the top flight.
Behind him, Emery only has academy prospects to call upon in-between the sticks, so if Martinez is to be sold before the 2 February deadline, doing so without bringing a new goalkeeper in would be a huge gamble.
Especially given the fact that Villa are still very much alive in the title race, and so fielding a potentially not up to scratch Bizot for the run-in could be catastrophic.
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