'Would jump at the chance' - Arsenal line up shock swoop for €48m Aston Villa star - and he's keen

Arsenal are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The Gunners are eager to bring Martinez back to the Emirates five years after he made his £17 million move to Villa Park. Current Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has just won the Premier League Golden Glove but the north London club are keeping their options open as Real Madrid hold an interest in signing Raya.

The Sun reports Martinez, who has twice won the Yashin Trophy, is a target for Arsenal if Raya is sold in the coming weeks. It is claimed Martinez would “jump at the opportunity” to rejoin his former club as there is no bad blood despite him being benched for much of his time at the Emirates.

Villa look likely to sell Martinez in the upcoming transfer window as they must make at least one significant sale to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). As English top-tier clubs are not allowed to lose more than £105 million over a three-year period and Villa are currently failing on that front, a current first-team player or several need to be sacrificed.

Martinez has been an extraordinary servant for Villa, racking up 70 clean sheets in 212 appearances. It is very difficult to replace a top-class goalkeeper but Martinez was a little out of sorts throughout 2024/25, failing to maintain his usual consistency. He could be the man to go as a result.

If Arsenal are to make a bid for Martinez, they would have to cough up around £40 million, as that is reportedly Villa’s asking price. The same can be said for other clubs sniffing around, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

A move to the Saudi Pro League cannot be ruled out, either, with Al-Nassr among Martinez’s potential suitors. A different Saudi top-tier side helped out Villa with their PSR concerns last summer as Al-Ittihad bought Moussa Diaby for around £50 million. If a little less than that is paid again, Martinez could be on the move.

What Unai Emery has said about Emi Martinez’s future

Martinez made the headlines after Villa’s final home match of the season - the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur - as he left the field in tears. The 51-time Argentina international, a World Cup winner in 2022, could not hold back his emotions as he appeared to say his farewells to the Villa Park faithful.

Villa fans were growing to accept Martinez’s departure in the week or so that followed but Unai Emery then threw a spanner in the works with a comment before the 2-0 defeat away at Manchester United on the final day. “No way,” Emery told TNT Sports when asked if that game would be Martinez’s last.

But then, after the match, during which Martinez received his first-ever career red card, Emery completely changed his tone. When he was asked by Birmingham World to clarify the situation, Emery replied: “I don’t know.

“He has a contract with us, we are very happy with him and we will see how it goes in the summer… I don’t know.” Then, when asked if any official discussions have taken place, Emery replied, with a shrug of the shoulders: “I don’t know. You can ask him!

Martinez’s future remains up in the air, then, but one thing that is for sure – many clubs would jump at the opportunity to sign him. Busy weeks lie ahead.