Emi Martinez transfer to Chelsea? Why Blues ‘could get' Argentine as World Cup-winning goalkeeper is billed as upgrade to Robert Sanchez

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper is currently plying his trade in the Premier League at Aston Villa. He helped them to Champions League qualification last season, but Unai Emery’s side are struggling to piece together another top-four challenge in 2024-25.

Martinez is, at 32 years of age, eager to continue testing himself at the highest possible level – having become a two-time winner of the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award. Chelsea may soon find themselves in the market for a new No.1 as Sanchez has failed to impress and Filip Jorgensen is restricted to cup duty.

Ex-Villa striker Darren Bent believes that Martinez could end up swapping the West Midlands for west London, telling talkSPORT of a potential deal for 2025: “I wonder if Aston Villa don’t get back in the Champions League. I know he signed a new contract, but could he go? The fact is he could play for almost any team he wanted to. Chelsea could get him.”

Martinez is tied to a contract at Villa Park through to the summer of 2029. He will not come cheap as a result, but Chelsea have continued to spend big on new recruits and will be looking to acquire the final pieces in a Premier League title-winning puzzle.