Aston Villa’s interest in defender Íñigo Martínez is seen as a problem by Barcelona president Joan Laporta as they eye him up in the summer transfer window.
That’s according El Desmarque, who explain that Villa are seen as potential contenders for the Spanish defender’s signature at the end of the season.
Laporta is ‘very clear’ what Barcelona’s roadmap for the summer will be and one of the positions that he knows needs reinforcing is the centre-back spot.
This is something he confirmed to Sport, who also add that the negotiation for Martínez is the ‘most advanced’ at this moment in time.
He is one of several options that they are looking at, having already tried to sign him last summer but struggled to get a deal over the line.
They now have an agreement in place with the player, who is keen on the switch to the Camp Nou for several reasons.
He, though, has ‘other offers’ to consider as he is available on a free transfer in the summer. Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid are named as the other two sides who are interested in him.
Those two are the latest to ‘join the fight’ for his signature and Laporta is aware of those two clubs making moves to win the race and considers it an issue.
He clearly believes that Unai Emery and Aston Villa could tempt him into a move to England and is now worried he faces a battle for Martínez’s signature as a result.
