AS Roma are eyeing a potential move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as they seek a new number one in the summer.
That’s according to Il Corriere dello Pallone, who say the World Cup winner is the Italian side’s surprise choice to replace Rui Patricio.
They explain that the Portuguese goalkeeper has been ‘anything but convincing’ since his arrival from Wolves and a series of mistakes this season has convinced Roma to make a change.
Tiago Pinto is working to make that happen, using all of his contacts so he can ‘guarantee’ the team the solidity that they need between the sticks.
The ‘first choice’ in that regard is Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez, who they believe would guarantee not only the ‘reliability’ they need but that ‘pinch of madness’ that Jose Mourinho likes in a player.
His price is also favourable, with it believed he is currently valued at €30m by Aston Villa, who have shown a ‘willingness to sell the player’ if the right offer arrives. Whether they sell to Roma is dependent on how close the Giallorossi will be able to offer compared to that figure.
The suggestion is that they don’t have the funds to offer €30m outright, but even aside from that, the move seems a little ambitious anyway.
We don’t want to denigrate Roma, or the pull of Jose Mourinho, in any way but the reality is that if Aston Villa’s World Cup winning goalkeeper, who is one of the best in the Premier League, were to leave this summer if would likely be to a bigger club than them.
That €30m asking price seems to be rather low as well, particularly as he is tied to a deal until 2027 and cost them €17.4m in 2020. €13m profit for a goalkeeper who won the World Cup six months ago seems unlikely.
Thus, we’ll take this report with a pinch of salt for the time being. There’s every chance Roma are keen on Martinez, but the prospect of Aston Villa selling him or the goalkeeper being keen is slim at best.
