Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez offered to Chelsea

Xabi Alonso and Unai Emery are at Stamford Bridge and Villa Park, respectively. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been offered to Chelsea as the West London club assesses a late-window opportunity to strengthen their goalkeeping department, according to The Athletic .

Representatives for the Argentina international have formally approached Stamford Bridge executives to gauge their interest in a deal.

Aston Villa are open to sanctioning the departure of their long-serving goalkeeper following a major reshuffle in Unai Emery's squad hierarchy.

After investing €35 million to sign Japanese international Zion Suzuki from Parma, Emery has installed Suzuki as Villa's new first-choice goalkeeper for the 2026/27 season.

This leaves Martinez facing an unfamiliar back-up role at Villa Park, prompting the club to facilitate a transfer to manage their wage bill and avoid squad friction.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper had previously expressed a desire for a new challenge, but a proposed move to Juventus collapsed earlier in the window when the Italian club failed to meet Villa's financial demands.

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Martinez's representatives are actively canvassing top European clubs, presenting Chelsea with a rare opportunity to land a proven, elite-level goalkeeper at a modest fee.

Chelsea's goalkeeping department is widely considered a weak spot, and the current number one, Robert Sanchez , struggled in Monday's 3-2 win over Fulham .

Since joining Villa from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has become one of the Premier League's most commanding goalkeepers, playing a key role in Villa's consistent European qualification.

His elite shot-stopping and vocal leadership would give Chelsea an authoritative presence between the posts.

While Chelsea have not yet submitted a formal bid to Aston Villa, internal discussions continue as the club weighs the financial and sporting merits of a deal.

With Villa eager to resolve Martinez's future, talks between Stamford Bridge chiefs and the player's representatives could accelerate quickly as the window draws to a close.