Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez offered to Chelsea | OneFootball

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been offered to Chelsea as the West Londoners assess a late-window opportunity to strengthen their goalkeeping department, according to The Athletic.

Representatives of the Argentina international have formally approached Stamford Bridge executives to gauge their interest in a deal.

Villa are open to sanctioning the departure of their long-serving goalkeeper after a major reshuffle, following the Europa League champions’ €35 million investment to sign Zion Suzuki from Parma.

Unai Emery has installed the Japanese international as Villa’s new first-choice goalkeeper for the 2026/27 season.

This leaves Martinez facing an unfamiliar back-up role at Villa Park, prompting the club to facilitate a transfer to manage their wage bill and avoid squad friction.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper had previously expressed a desire for a new challenge. A proposed move to Juventus collapsed earlier in the window when the Italian club failed to meet Villa’s financial demands.

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Martinez’s representatives are actively canvassing top European clubs, presenting Chelsea with a rare opportunity to land a proven, elite-level goalkeeper at a modest fee.

Chelsea’s goalkeeping department is widely considered a weak spot, and the current number one, Robert Sanchez, struggled in Monday’s 3-2 win over Fulham.

Since joining Villa from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has become one of the Premier League’s most commanding goalkeepers, playing a key role in Villa’s consistent European qualification.

His elite shot-stopping and vocal leadership would give Chelsea an authoritative presence between the posts.

While Chelsea have not yet submitted a formal bid to Aston Villa, internal discussions continue as they weigh up the deal’s financial and sporting merits.

With Villa eager to resolve Martinez’s future, talks between Stamford Bridge chiefs and the player’s representatives could accelerate quickly as the window draws to a close.