Chelsea have opened discussions with representatives of Emiliano Martínez after the Argentina international was offered to the club amid growing uncertainty over his Aston Villa future, according to reports.
Martínez has informed Villa that he wishes to leave the club, with a proposed switch to Juventus falling through last week after Villa completed the signing of his intended replacement, Zion Suzuki, from Parma for £30m. That collapse has left the door open for other suitors, and Chelsea are now weighing up whether to formally pursue a move.
The goalkeeping position has been a persistent headache for Chelsea, with Robert Sánchez established as the club's first-choice but repeatedly criticised for costly errors. New manager Xabi Alonso opted to stick with Sánchez for Monday's victory over Fulham, yet two mistakes from the Spaniard once again led directly to opposition goals. The club had been grooming 21-year-old Mike Penders as a long-term successor, but the emergence of Martínez as an available option has reportedly caught Chelsea's attention as a potential shortcut to solving their long-standing problem.
At 33, Martínez arrives with an extensive trophy haul that few goalkeepers in world football can match. He was central to Argentina's World Cup triumph in 2022 and helped his country reach the final of the 2026 tournament as well. At club level, he lifted the Europa League with Villa last season, having earlier won the FA Cup with Arsenal back in 2020. His pedigree and big-game experience are seen as major factors behind Chelsea's interest, with suggestions the opportunity may be too significant to pass up.
Martínez's standing at Villa Park appears to have diminished sharply. He was left out of the squad entirely for Villa's opening weekend defeat at Brighton, a match that ended in heavy loss for the club. Marco Bizot started between the posts instead, with new arrival Suzuki named among the substitutes, underlining how quickly the goalkeeper's status within the squad has shifted.
For Chelsea, the timing of Martínez's availability could hardly be more relevant. The club have gone 17 consecutive Premier League matches without keeping a clean sheet, their worst such run since August 1991, a statistic that has fuelled scrutiny of Sánchez's suitability as the long-term No 1 for a side with title ambitions. Pundits and supporters alike have questioned whether the current setup between the posts is sufficient if Chelsea are to compete seriously for major honours under Alonso.
Talks between Chelsea and Martínez's camp are said to be focused on establishing potential terms for a transfer that could benefit both parties. For Villa, sanctioning a departure would resolve the awkward situation of having three senior goalkeepers on their books following Suzuki's arrival. For Chelsea, bringing in a proven winner with major tournament and cup-winning experience could provide an immediate upgrade in a position that has undermined their performances in recent seasons.
Nothing is yet finalised, and any deal would likely require negotiation over transfer fee, wages, and Villa's willingness to let a key figure leave mid-window. However, the mutual interest suggests movement could follow in the coming days as both clubs assess how best to address their respective goalkeeping situations.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.