Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ‘makes sense’, former Spurs and Premier League striker Darren Bent tells talkSPORT (14 March, 6.20pm).
If reports are to be believed, Tottenham tried and failed to lure Wojciech Szczesny back to North London recently; Fabio Paratici a big admirer of his former Juventus glovesman. Szczesny, however, is not the only former Arsenal ‘keeper on the radar of their arch rivals.
Reporter Graeme Bailey, speaking via the Talking Transfers podcast, believes Martinez is keen on a move to Spurs. The World Cup winner, Argentina’s penalty shoot-out hero in Qatar, wants to play Champions League football and Aston Villa, despite making undoubted progress under Unai Emery, are still a long way off the top four.
“(Targeting Martinez) makes sense,” says Bent, who represented both Tottenham and Aston Villa during his top-flight career.
“Spurs need a goalkeeper. Hugo Lloris has been very good for Tottenham but he makes too many mistakes.”
Tottenham like Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Emi’ Martinez
Martinez joined Aston Villa for a cool £20 million back in 2020, growing frustrated with his lack of regular opportunities at Arsenal. The 30-year-old’s father, meanwhile, believes the time is approaching for the one-time Reading loanee to make another step forwards after three seasons stuck in mid table at Villa Park.
“I hope he goes to one of those great teams,” Beto Martinez tells TYC Sport. “(But) he has his head in Aston Villa. Emery asks him not to leave, to please stay at Aston Villa. He loves him. Everything is more than good at Aston Villa with Emi.”
Martinez would certainly not be easily replaced. Few goalkeepers in the world possess his wide-ranging mix of attributes; that rock-solid self confidence, that presence, that distribution, that penalty-saving prowess.
“Wonderful,” Arsenal legend Martin Keown told talkSPORT after Martinez denied Randal Kolo Muani in the dying seconds of the World Cup final vs France.
“He made a magnificent save with his left foot. Absolutely out of this world. I do feel he’s an outstanding goalkeeper.”
Tottenham are also considering Brentford contract rebel David Raya.
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