Chelsea Eyes Late Move for Emi Martinez as Sanchez Faces Scrutiny
Chelsea are exploring a late move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez after the Argentina international was offered to the club by his representatives.
The approach comes with current No 1 Robert Sanchez under heavy scrutiny following a costly error in Monday’s win at Fulham, a mistake that dragged the hosts back into a game Chelsea had under control.
Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina and a cornerstone of their recent golden era, is expected to leave Villa after the Midlands club signed Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma in a deal worth close to £30m. Suzuki’s arrival has opened the door for Martinez to seek a new challenge at the top end of European football.
Juventus had tracked Martinez earlier in the window but ultimately turned to Guglielmo Vicario from Spurs, leaving the 32-year-old’s future unresolved as the deadline looms.
Since arriving from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has grown into one of the elite goalkeepers in the game. He has played 256 times for Villa, anchoring Unai Emery’s side through a dramatic rise that has brought tangible rewards: a Europa League triumph in May and qualification for two Champions League campaigns.
His international record is even more striking. Martinez was pivotal in Argentina’s World Cup win in 2022 and their run to the final of the 2026 edition. He has also helped deliver Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, plus the Finalissima crown in 2022. Big stages, big saves, big personality.
That personality divides opinion. Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson did not shy away from it.
“Martinez is available and he can be hard work sometimes. He comes across like that. But he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Merson said, before turning the spotlight firmly on Chelsea’s ambition.
“And if Chelsea want to get back to being one of the best in the world, you've got to have a top goalkeeper.”
Sanchez, Merson stressed, is no stranger to spectacular moments.
“Robert Sanchez is usually a good shot-stopper. This weekend, or against Arsenal at the Emirates in two weeks' time, he could be mind-blowing. He could make save after save after save and you'll sit there and go: 'Wow.' He could save Chelsea next week.”
The problem, in Merson’s eyes, is the frequency of the lapses.
“I don't like picking on goalkeepers because it's a hard job - and you make one mistake for every 50 mistakes the outfield players make with their passing.
“But the match against Fulham was another game that he brought the other team back into the game.
“At 1-0 you were looking at it and thinking this is going to be three or four. But he lets in a cheap goal and all of a sudden the game has turned on its head really. It looked like Fulham were the team that were going to get the next goal.”
From there, Merson widened the lens to what separates contenders from nearly-men.
“I've never known a team ever win anything without a top goalie. I'm sitting there now thinking when was the last time David Raya made a mistake?
“The Wolves game in February maybe? But once. In February.
“Sanchez makes one mistake a week nearly. And a goal may not come from it, he might kick the ball out for a throw-in.
“Against Fulham, Chelsea were dominating, he takes a great catch from a corner and he plays a terrible throw out to Cole Palmer. That happens week in, week out. And the ball could be intercepted, the ball goes back into the box and the opposition score out of nothing.”
Even with his admiration for Martinez, Merson does not believe the Argentine alone transforms Chelsea into title challengers.
“But I don't think Martinez takes Chelsea towards the title. You look at Arsenal's squad and if you change a player, it hardly weakens the team. Every position is solid.
“If you look at Chelsea, they've got a lot of players in each position, but it weakens the team.”
For Chelsea, the calculation is clear. A proven, decorated goalkeeper is on the market. Their current No 1 is under pressure. The club is trying to climb back to the top after finishing 10th last season.
“The name of the game for Chelsea is to make sure when this season finishes, they are playing Champions League football next season. It's as simple as that,” Merson said. “They came 10th last season. And you've got to learn to walk before you can run.”
Whether that first step back towards Europe is taken with Sanchez or with Martinez standing in goal could define the shape of Chelsea’s rebuild.
