Fresh twist as two clubs 'submit bids' for Aston Villa and Wolves-linked Club World Cup gem
The latest transfer news as bids are made for an Aston Villa and Wolves target.
There’s been a significant update amid reported interest from Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, with bids submitted by two clubs in recent days.
Villa and Wolves have both been linked with a move for Victor, who recently excelled at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 29-year-old ranked in the top 10 per cent of goalkeepers at the competition for save percentages, whilst his eight high claims could not be bettered by any other player.
It’s understood that Unai Emery wants to add depth to Villa’s goalkeeping department regardless of whether or not Emiliano Martinez leaves, while Wolves are preparing for the potential exit of Sam Johnstone amid interest from the likes of Burnley and Sunderland.
Two bids submitted following Villa and Wolves scouting missions
Victor could therefore be a genuine option for both West Midlands clubs this summer. Football Insider reports Villa, Wolves and Burnley all had scouts watching Victor on Tuesday night as he put on a man-of-the-match display in Botafogo’s 2-0 victory over Red Bull Bragantino in the Copa Betano Do Brazil.
In a fresh twist, the report states that Bayer Leverkusen and one unnamed Premier League club have now submitted official bids for the goalkeeper. It remains to be seen whether that said club is Villa, Wolves, or Burnley, but it’s likely given their recent scouting missions.
It could be tricky to fend off Leverkusen given their Champions League status but the allure of the Premier League has been proven throughout the years and cannot be understated. There’s uncertainty around any potential price tag, with no asking price reported. According to Transfermarkt, Victor’s current value stands at around £6.9 million.
Emi Martinez transfer latest
Ending July and heading into April, the Martinez saga is still dragging on. It appeared at the end of last season that the two-time Yashin Trophy winner was saying his farewells to Villa supporters but he remains at the club, for now at least.
When Villa were struggling to make ends meet to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), Martinez was one of those who were tipped to be sacrificed. Those concerns were eased when an agreement was reached to sell the women’s team but that doesn’t mean Martinez is now definitely staying.
Another set of regulations, UEFA’s squad cost rules (SCR), must be considered. Villa need to show they’re making an effort to reduce their wage bill or they could face hefty fines – or worse, a ban from European competition altogether. As Martinez is understood to be one of the club’s highest earners, his sale could help in that regard.
Nonetheless, Birmingham World understands it’s not Villa pushing Martinez out the door. Instead, it’s the World Cup winner himself who is hoping for an exit. Although Martinez loves Villa, he fancies pastures new. Manchester United hold a strong interest and could decide to make an official bid before the end of the transfer window, though Villa are yet to receive an offer at this stage.