Chelsea are assessing a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after opening contact with the Argentina international's representatives. Reports indicate that Martinez has been made available and wants a new challenge, but there is no suggestion yet that Chelsea have submitted an offer to Villa.
The potential deal has gathered pace after Robert Sanchez's difficult display in Chelsea's 3-2 victory at Fulham. Sanchez was beaten at his near post for one goal and later failed to deal cleanly with another shot, creating the opening for Fulham to score. Chelsea won, but the performance has again put their established number one under scrutiny.
An opportunity, not yet an agreement
Multiple outlets agree on the broad outline: Villa are willing to contemplate Martinez's departure, Chelsea have spoken to his camp, and the London club are considering whether to take the opportunity. The distinction matters. Discussions with a player's representatives can establish wages, contract length and appetite for a move, but do not resolve the terms Villa would demand.
Martinez's proposed switch to Juventus fell apart earlier in the month, although the reasons are not entirely consistent across reports. One account says the Italian club had made an initial £6m offer, while another attributes the breakdown to concerns over a finger issue. Villa have maintained that Martinez is not injured, leaving the precise reason for Juventus withdrawing unclear.
What is clear is that Martinez was absent from Villa's squad for their opening league defeat at Brighton. Marco Bizot played, with new signing Zion Suzuki among the substitutes. That selection, combined with Emery's confirmation that Martinez has again expressed a wish to leave, suggests Villa have already planned for life beyond a goalkeeper who has been central to their recent success.
Villa's succession plan changes the calculation
Suzuki's arrival is the key element in Villa's position. Some reporting has framed the Japan international as the long-term successor, while Emery has offered a more immediate interpretation, saying the signing was made to play now. Either way, Villa have recruited a goalkeeper capable of competing straight away and retained Bizot as another senior option.
That depth reduces the sporting risk of selling Martinez. Reports have also linked Villa's openness to an effort to refresh an ageing squad, manage their wage structure and comply with financial regulations. Martinez's status as one of the club's highest-paid players is part of that equation, although no agreed valuation has emerged.
Chelsea and Villa have completed several deals in recent windows, which may make dialogue more straightforward than it would be between less familiar clubs. Yet an existing relationship does not remove the basic tension: Villa have a replacement but should still seek a fee that reflects Martinez's experience, while Chelsea must decide how much a short-term solution is worth.
Sanchez's errors have sharpened Chelsea's dilemma
Chelsea's interest is understandable because Martinez would bring a very different profile to the current options. At 33, he has substantial Premier League experience, international pedigree and a record of performing in high-pressure matches. For a side with ambitions at the top end of the table, that certainty has obvious appeal after a run of high-profile mistakes from Sanchez.
The case is not quite as simple as replacing one goalkeeper with another. Chelsea have invested in Mike Penders, the 21-year-old Belgian who returned after a productive loan spell at Strasbourg. He is expected to have an opportunity in the Carabao Cup against Luton, and the club have previously viewed him as a possible future first choice.
A Martinez signing need not end Penders' development; it could create a period in which an experienced starter shields a younger goalkeeper from being rushed into league football. But it would make the pathway more crowded and intensify questions over Sanchez's role. Chelsea would effectively be carrying three keepers with credible claims to regular involvement, at least in the short term.
Manager Xabi Alonso has not publicly isolated Sanchez for blame. His comments before the Luton match placed the Fulham problems in a broader team context, rather than presenting them as solely a goalkeeping failure. That is a sensible public stance, but it does not rule out action before the deadline.
The unanswered questions
The central issue is whether Chelsea see Martinez as an upgrade for this season or as a response to one alarming match. Their contact with his representatives suggests the club are exploring the market seriously, but not necessarily that a transfer is imminent.
For Villa, the question is whether a satisfactory bid arrives in time. They have already strengthened their goalkeeping department and Martinez has communicated his desire to move, yet they are not compelled to accept terms they consider inadequate. Until Chelsea turn exploratory talks into an approach to Villa, Martinez's future remains open — and Sanchez's position remains under pressure rather than settled.