Chelsea Consider Emiliano Martínez Transfer as Goalkeeping Concerns Rise
Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, with the World Cup winner now firmly on the market and the London club actively considering a late-window move, a source has confirmed to ESPN's Mark Ogden.
Villa’s stance is clear. After bringing in Japan international Zion Suzuki, whom they see as their long-term No. 1, they are ready to offload Martínez. A proposed transfer to Juventus collapsed earlier in August, and the 31-year-old did not even make the squad for Villa’s bruising 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
That absence was no coincidence. Villa have been open to selling Martínez, who arrived from Arsenal for £17 million ($23m) in 2020, as part of a broader plan to refresh an ageing squad and ease financial pressure. The club’s need to generate funds has already seen Morgan Rogers join Chelsea for £117 million ($159m), with Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne also leaving as Villa work to stay within UEFA and Premier League financial regulations.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping dilemma
At Stamford Bridge, the timing of Martínez’s availability is impossible to ignore.
Robert Sánchez is under renewed scrutiny after a shaky display in Monday’s 3-2 win over Fulham, when he allowed a tame effort from Josh King to slip through him. The mistake has reopened a debate that never really went away: is Sánchez reliable enough to anchor a team with title ambitions?
The club are now weighing whether to act decisively before the window closes and move for Martínez, a source confirmed.
Chelsea had hoped the solution might already be in-house. Mike Penders, the 21-year-old Belgian who impressed on loan at Strasbourg last season, is viewed as a serious prospect and could make his first-team debut against Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday. The plan, at least initially, was for Penders to grow into a genuine challenger for Sánchez and, in time, the No. 1 shirt.
The pressure finally told. The chance to bring in an established Premier League goalkeeper with a major international pedigree has forced a rethink.
Martínez was a central figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and part of the side that finished runners-up to Spain at this summer’s tournament. His presence, experience and big-game record present obvious appeal for a Chelsea side trying to re-establish themselves among the league’s elite.
Sánchez, by contrast, has struggled to convince a succession of Chelsea managers. Mauricio Pochettino dropped him as first choice in 2024, turning instead to relatively untested Serbia international Djordje Petrovic. Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior have also sidelined Sánchez at various points in response to poor form.
With Martínez on the table, Chelsea must now decide whether to double down on their original plan or pivot to a proven, battle-hardened option.
Enzo future still in the spotlight
While the goalkeeper situation simmers, another Argentina international remains at the heart of Chelsea’s transfer narrative.
Xabi Alonso insisted on Wednesday that he expects Enzo Fernández to feature against Luton despite continuing speculation over the midfielder’s future. Chelsea value the 25-year-old at £120 million ($163m), and he has been consistently linked with a move to Manchester City.
“Yes we expect that he's involved. He's training really well and he is a good professional,” Alonso said at his news conference.
Asked if he wanted Fernández to stay, the Chelsea manager kept his focus on the squad’s overall strength.
“We want to have the best team possible. We know Enzo and his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait. We'll think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop.”
Alonso also confirmed that Moisés Caicedo and Marco Palestra remain sidelined with injuries, but Cole Palmer has been passed fit.
Chelsea now stand at a familiar crossroads: stick with the project and its young core, or seize the chance to add another hardened winner in Martínez as they chase a return to the very top of English football.
