WHO WILL REPLACE EMI MARTINEZ? THREE KEEPERS ASTON VILLA COULD SIGN WITH THAT £40M WINDFALL
Aston Villa set a £40m price tag for Emi Martinez. Discover why Unai Emery is ready to sell the World Cup winner this January.
Villa already sold Donyell Malen to Roma for £25 million this window. They’ve brought in Alysson and Brian Madjo, but honestly, it’s pretty obvious they care more about selling players right now.
That probably means more exits from Unai Emery’s squad before the window closes. Martinez, their first-choice keeper, could be one of them. There’s talk that Villa have already set a price for him.
Aston Villa want £40 million for Emi Martinez. According to Football Insider, if Martinez leaves in January, that’s the number Villa are holding out for. They’re open to offers and might actually let him go if someone meets their asking price.
Emery seems willing to part with his “world-class” goalkeeper if the right offer comes in, especially since Martinez hasn’t been at his sharpest this season. Nobody really knows who’d replace him if he left, but that’s a problem for later.
Still, Martinez is one of the best keepers in the Premier League—maybe even the world. He just racked up his 200th Premier League appearance when Villa beat Newcastle 2-0 on Sunday, pulling them within four points of the title race.
He’ll turn 34 at the start of next season, though, and if Villa get £40 million for a World Cup winner, that’s a huge deal. They could use that money to bring in someone younger and start building for the future.
Martinez is the classic late bloomer. He spent most of his twenties out of the spotlight, which worked out perfectly for Villa. He only joined them at 28, after making just 71 league appearances for Arsenal and a handful of loan spells at clubs like Oxford United, Rotherham, and Reading. His real breakthrough came at Arsenal during lockdown.
He helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2020, and Villa jumped at the chance to sign him. That move kick-started his path to becoming a World Cup winner, all thanks to his performances in a Villa shirt.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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