Ten points or £16m? Emi Martinez worth more than money as Aston Villa warned off sanctioning sale of goalkeeper linked with Man Utd and Saudi Pro League clubs

Serious questions are being asked of whether World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez will still be at Villa Park in the 2025-26 campaign. That is despite the Argentina international being tied to a contract through to 2029.

With no Champions League football on the agenda for next season, the Villans will reportedly have to sanction sales this summer in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

It has been suggested that Martinez could depart, as one of the club’s most saleable assets, and the 32-year-old has seen moves to Old Trafford or the Saudi Pro League speculated on - with a surprisingly low £16 million ($22m) price tag being mooted. Villa are, however, being advised to do all they can to retain the South American shot-stopper.

Former Villa striker Emile Heskey told OLBG when asked about the prospect of Martinez moving on: “Huge, huge blow. He’s been a mainstay and an outstanding servant for Villa.

“I think there were some pundits that said he’s a great goalkeeper. It could be as much as 10 points. He's probably been more than that. You know, he's been fantastic.

“An interesting character, which most goalkeepers are, but yeah, flamboyant and someone who's demanding and commanding in his area. You need that, you need that within a goalkeeper. Someone who's commanding in that area, and he definitely is that.”

While urging Villa to keep Martinez on board, Heskey is not convinced that efforts should be made to bring Jack Grealish back to his native West Midlands from Manchester City - four years on from the England playmaker leaving in a record-breaking £100 million ($135m) transfer.

Heskey added: “Going back to an old club is always an interesting one, isn't it? There's not many players that have gone back to a club and really lived up to expectations.

“I know Thierry Henry had a short stint back [at Arsenal] and that went well, but you're not the same player and Jack Grealish isn't the same player because he's played in a different formation, a different role, a different strategy than what it was when he was at Villa.

“Villa are not the same side or the same structure as when he left as well. So it'd be an interesting one that if he ever did go back, where would he fit within that? Where would he play? Because again, we look at Pep Guardiola’s way of playing and it's very structural. You've got to stay in your areas.

“However, Unai Emery is pretty similar, you've got to work his work rate and you've got to stay in the structure that he's put out. So it would be interesting to see it. I wouldn't call for him to go back there because there'll be certain expectations from Villa fans that the Jack that left is the Jack that was coming back, but it's not the case.”

Movement in and out of Villa Park is expected during another busy summer transfer window in 2025. It remains to be seen whether Martinez and Grealish form part of those comings and goings.