Emiliano Martínez has been a key figure for Aston Villa for nearly six years. Since his arrival in 2020, he has been a transformative presence. However, his time in the West Midlands may be coming to an end.
Following an emotional “near-farewell” last May, and with interest from Manchester United and Inter Milan, Martínez’s future at Villa Park is uncertain. He pushed for a move away from Villa Park, with the Villans weighing up options to replace him.
Martinez’s Possible Departure
Martinez will likely depart at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Villa need to consider who could fill the large hole he would leave.
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid were both heavily interested in signing the Argentinian. The Red Devils opted for Senne Lammens instead, due to his age and low fee. Madrid couldn’t move on Jan Oblak, so never made an official offer.
Villa’s need to reduce their wage bill strengthens the idea that Martinez will need to leave, as his contract makes him the highest earner at the club.
Potential Replacements for Villa
Here are four potential candidates that could replace him:
- James Trafford
- Diogo Costa
- Andriy Lunin
James Trafford was re-signed by Manchester City last summer for £27 million. The original plan was for him to become the No 1, replacing the long-serving Ederson.
However, Gianluigi Donnarumma was available at a reasonable price, causing City to make a move on him as well. This season, the Italian has been the starting goalkeeper, with Trafford deputising in cup games.
The Englishman may pursue a move away from the Etihad, as promises may have been broken. Giving him the No 1 shirt at Villa and the prospect of Champions League football may entice him.
He’s young, has bags of potential and will be on lower wages than Martinez, which makes him the perfect replacement.
Diogo Costa: A Strong Contender
There have been consistent links between Diogo Costa and Aston Villa since last year. The 26-year-old is a serial winner at Porto and has a whole heap of experience under his belt.
He joined the club at the age of 11 and has climbed the ranks, establishing himself as the No 1 for the last five years. The Portuguese international recently signed a new contract which runs until 2030; however, his release clause has dropped to €60 million (£51.9 million).
Whilst it’s a steep fee, Villa would be paying for a player that is already on a similar level to Martinez and would slot in seamlessly into Unai Emery’s system. A move to the Premier League would be the next step in his career and a chance to become one of the world’s best goalkeepers is surely on the cards.
Andriy Lunin: A Proven Option
A backup at Real Madrid for several years, Andriy Lunin has proved that he is more than capable of stepping in when needed. Deputising for Thibaut Courtois, the Ukrainian covered the Belgian for the majority of the 2023/24 season, when he tore his ACL.
Lunin played a crucial role in helping Madrid secure the La Liga and Champions League titles. This led him t