Chelsea Target Emi Martinez Amid Sanchez Concerns
Chelsea have opened the door to a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, sounding out the Argentina international’s camp as doubts grow over Robert Sanchez’s grip on the No 1 shirt at Stamford Bridge.
Martinez, 33, is viewed as attainable this window after Villa reshaped their goalkeeping department by bringing in Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma in a deal worth around £30m earlier this month. With Suzuki arriving, Villa are prepared to listen to offers for their World Cup-winning keeper, and Chelsea are now weighing up whether to act.
A familiar trading route
If a deal happens, it will be the latest chapter in one of the Premier League’s busiest transfer corridors.
Chelsea and Villa have become regular partners in the market. This summer alone, Chelsea shattered their own transfer record to prise forward Morgan Rogers away from Villa for £117m, while Alejandro Garnacho travelled in the opposite direction on an initial loan.
Nicolas Jackson could yet follow. The striker, valued at around £65m, is being considered by Villa, where he would be reunited with former Villarreal boss Unai Emery. The clubs have already shown they are willing to get creative to make deals work, completing what was widely dubbed a “PSR swap” when Ian Maatsen headed to Villa and Omari Kellyman – now at Strasbourg – moved to west London.
Martinez has attracted serious interest elsewhere this summer. Juventus pushed hard earlier in the window but walked away amid concerns over a finger injury, turning instead to Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario on loan. That collapse has left Martinez’s future unresolved and Chelsea watching closely.
Spotlight on Sanchez
The interest in Martinez comes at a delicate moment for Sanchez.
Installed as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, the Spaniard endured an uncomfortable start to the Premier League season at Fulham. He was beaten at his near post by Josh King’s angled strike and then spilled another effort into a dangerous area, allowing Gonzalo Garcia to pounce. Chelsea escaped Craven Cottage with a 3-2 win, but the errors stuck in the memory.
Xavi Alonso moved quickly to shield his keeper after the game, insisting the conversations behind the scenes had been “normal” and focused on collective improvement rather than individual blame.
“We have talked more about the team thing, about what we did well and what we have to do better,” he said when asked again about Sanchez ahead of Thursday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town at Stamford Bridge. “It was more about understanding the context. Every game is going to be important because we are in this process that we still need to develop things, we need to make adjustments that are more team-related.”
Yet the pressure around the position is unmistakable. Chelsea’s recruitment team are exploring an elite upgrade, while Alonso is weighing up a change in the short term.
Door opens for Penders
Mike Penders, back from a strong loan spell at Strasbourg, is pushing for his chance and could start against Luton.
“He’s in the squad, so he has an opportunity,” Alonso said. “We will decide and give the team to the players tomorrow, so I prefer to expect that they know first.”
If Penders steps in and impresses, Chelsea’s calculus on Martinez may shift. If the uncertainty continues, the pull of a proven, battle-hardened World Cup winner will only grow stronger.
For now, the calls have been made, the lines are open, and Chelsea’s goalkeeper situation suddenly looks like one of the most intriguing subplots of their window.
