Man Utd and Barcelona on red alert after Emi Martinez leaves Villa exit hint
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been linked with a summer move away from Villa Park and their could be a bidding war for the World Cup winning goalkeeper
Emi Martinez's uncertain Aston Villa future has left Manchester United and Barcelona exploring a move, it has been claimed. Martinez has been the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League, but could yet end up staying in Europe.
The Argentina number one was visibly emotional at the end of Villa's final home game of the season, a victory over Tottenham, as was Saudi-linked team-mate Leon Bailey. Manager Unai Emery wasn't able to confirm the keeper would be staying, sparking plenty of speculation.
'Of course, it is the last match (of the season) here, and I don't know,' Emery said after the 2-0 win. "We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field, at the moment they are responding and they are so, so focused in how we are preparing and playing each match.
'Of course, Leon Bailey is playing now less because other players are responding very well. They are performing well.
'And we are going to play Manchester (United) for the last three points. And for us it will be very important again, to prepare, to be focused everybody."
According to reports in Argentina (via The Sun), Barcelona and United are both ready to make Martinez their new starting keeper if they can get a deal over the line. United's current first choice Andre Onana has come under scrutiny for some high-profile errors, while Barca stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has played just once since September due to injury.
Ter Stegen returned to the fold against Valladolid at the start of May but has since returned to the bench. Wojciech Szczesny has started regularly in the German's absence, but his own future is uncertain after he came out of retirement to join the Catalan club.
United, meanwhile, are unlikely to spend big on a new keeper but may still spend. Head coach Ruben Amorim laid out the situation amid questions over the future of Cameroon international Onana.
"We cannot change all the players. We need to improve every position on the field," the Portuguese said just days before the Europa League final, where Onana is likely to start despite being dropped earlier in the campaign.
"Goalkeeper is the same; we can work with Andre. Andre Onana already proved he is a top player with Inter. Altay [Bayindir] the same with Fenerbahce. We have some seasons where we are underperforming."
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