Juventus have made direct contact with Emiliano Martinez’s camp as they continue to target the Aston Villa goalkeeper.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Juventus contacted Martinez’s representatives today, with the Argentina international still viewed as their favourite goalkeeping target.
The deal depends on Aston Villa’s asking price. Romano adds that Villa’s request is still considered too expensive, with negotiations expected to wait until after the World Cup.
Martinez has been linked with Juventus throughout the summer. GOAL previously reported that the 33-year-old had verbally agreed personal terms with the Italian club.
ReadAstonVilla has also tracked the situation, including why Villa’s goalkeeper planning has become tied to Juventus’ Martinez interest.
Villa Control The Martinez Price
The important detail is still Villa’s position.
Martinez is not a fringe player and cannot be priced like one. He remains one of Unai Emery’s senior leaders, a World Cup winner and a goalkeeper with proven penalty-box authority.
Reuters recently reported that Martinez played through a broken finger to help Villa win the Europa League. That underlined his importance again at the end of last season.
Juventus may see him as their preferred option, but Villa do not need to accept a soft deal. Martinez is under contract, and replacing him would create another major decision in an already busy summer.
The timing also helps Villa. Any serious negotiation is now expected after the World Cup, giving Emery and Roberto Olabe more room to assess the market.
Villa have been linked with possible replacements, including Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. That does not mean Martinez should be allowed to leave cheaply.
If Juventus want their favourite target, they need to meet Villa’s valuation. Until then, direct contact with the player’s camp is only the first step.
