Juventus clearly intend to lowball for Emi Martinez, and Aston Villa would have every right to be annoyed by it. The Italian club is reportedly offering less than €10 million for the Argentina international, a fee that falls far short of his market value.
Martinez remains elite despite age
Martinez is still one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League and Europe. He has three years remaining on his contract and could win back-to-back World Cups with Argentina. While he turns 34 in September, he is a late bloomer with more years at the top and has not shown signs of slowing down, aside from missing a few games due to injury last season.
Villa's financial constraints
Removing Martinez’s wages from Villa’s expenditure would save a considerable amount, but signing a younger replacement capable of stepping into his shoes would not be cheap. Goalkeepers like Robin Risser, Guillaume Restes, and Zion Suzuki are affordable for clubs Villa competes against, but Villa’s financial situation is very different due to Squad Cost Rules (SCR). This gives Villa little flexibility, and they have preferred to retain the core group that has developed well under Unai Emery rather than make several big sales to facilitate new signings.
Villa's stance on Martinez
Villa do not want to sell Martinez this summer and are unwilling to enter negotiations with Juventus while the Italian side intends to pay a minimal fee. According to Italian media, Juventus want to pay less than €10 million, which simply does not represent market value. Villa have other areas needing attention, including signing wingers and a right-back, while Amadou Onana’s injury could force them to recruit a new midfielder.
Martinez open to challenge but not desperate
Martinez has been open to a new challenge for a little while, but that is very different from wanting out. If Juventus are not serious about paying what he is worth and no other team comes forward with a respectable offer, then he will stay. Villa’s stance should not come as a surprise given their financial constraints and the goalkeeper's importance to the squad.
