Chelsea have made clear they have no intention of pursuing Emiliano Martinez, dismissing any suggestion that the Argentina international could be a target this summer despite his uncertain future at Aston Villa.
Reports had emerged linking the Blues with a move for Martinez after his proposed transfer to Juventus collapsed on Sunday night, leaving the veteran shot-stopper without a clear path forward. However, sources close to Chelsea insist there has been no shift in the club's thinking, and Martinez remains a player they are not considering bringing to Stamford Bridge.
The west London club are said to be satisfied with their current goalkeeping setup as they look ahead to the 2026-27 campaign. Robert Sanchez is set to continue as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, with young Belgian talent Mike Penders serving as his understudy after being recalled from a loan spell at sister club Strasbourg.
Sanchez's position as number one was briefly challenged last season when then-manager Liam Rosenior opted to hand the gloves to Filip Jorgensen, who has since departed for Strasbourg. That experiment did not go as planned, and Sanchez was quickly restored to the starting role. The Spanish goalkeeper is expected to retain his status as first-choice under incoming manager Xabi Alonso heading into the new season.
This is not the first goalkeeping link Chelsea have had to bat away this transfer window. Earlier speculation connected the club with Porto and Portugal number one Diogo Costa, but it is understood that interest was never genuine. Chelsea reportedly settled on their goalkeeping plans early in the window, committing to Sanchez as their main option with Penders as adequate backup, rendering any pursuit of Costa unnecessary.
Martinez's situation, meanwhile, remains complicated. The 33-year-old shot-stopper appeared close to sealing a switch to Juventus, but that deal fell apart at the eleventh hour, leaving him without a clear destination. His departure from Villa Park now seems increasingly likely regardless of where he ends up, as the club have already lined up his successor.
Aston Villa have moved swiftly to address the goalkeeping position, agreeing a deal to sign Zion Suzuki from Parma for a fee in the region of £30 million. The Japanese goalkeeper's arrival signals that Villa are preparing to move on without Martinez, who has been a key figure for the club in recent seasons.
With his move to Turin collapsing and Chelsea firmly closing the door on any interest, Martinez's next destination remains unclear. The goalkeeper market has seen significant movement this window, with several clubs reshuffling their options between the posts, but Chelsea appear determined to stay out of the chain reaction.
For now, the Blues are content to enter the new campaign with continuity in goal, banking on Sanchez to deliver consistency after last season's brief disruption, while Penders is expected to provide depth and competition as he continues his development at the club.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.