Manchester United have been looking to sign a new goalkeeper and despite rejecting the chance to sign the Argentina international earlier in the summer, are now set to move for the Aston Villa stopper
Manchester United are making a shock £40million bid for Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez. The Reds rejected the chance to sign the Argentine international earlier in the summer when it was deemed that a deal would be too expensive when his £200,000-a-week wages were thrown into the mix.
Instead, United set their sights on Royal Antwerp’s highly-coveted young stopper Senne Lammens, after beating a number of top European rivals for his £20million signature. It was believed that Lammens would be signed before Monday evening’s transfer deadline. The 23-year-old is seen as the man who will replace Thibaut Courtois as Belgium’s No.1.
But United now look ready to sanction a costly short-term solution with Martinez instead of planning for the future. Martinez celebrates his 33rd birthday on Tuesday and his age and combustible character have prompted Villa to look to cash in.
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United feel that signing the former Arsenal keeper is a gamble they have to take, even though the club are flirting with PSR problems having already spent more than £200million on new signings this summer.
Manager Ruben Amorim does not trust £43million Andre Onana or Turkish back-up Altay Bayindir. Onana was axed from United’s team for the 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford after a dodgy display in the shock Carabao Cup exit at Grimsby in midweek.
But Bayindir, who was at fault for Fulham’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage last week, blundered again when the Clarets levelled for a second time.
Interestingly, Villa are themselves looking to make a late deadline-beating move, to take West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta to the West Midlands. Unai Emery has been pushing club chiefs to strengthen his squad but PSR issues have meant the Villans haven’t been able to add how the Spaniard has wanted.
But having already cashed in on homegrown midfielder Jacob Ramsey, moving out Martinez in the next 36 hours will give them breathing space moving forwards, even as they seek to add Paqueta. They’ve been holding talks over a loan move with a £50m transfer obligation next summer, and while the Brazil international is keen on the move, West Ham don’t like the current terms. Villa being able to pay more cash now and making the transfer permanent from the off would help.
A new goalkeeper would likely also arrive, although Emery may be happy to let new veteran stopper Marco Bizot hold the fort until January if they can’t land the replacement for Martinez that they want.
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