Emi Martinez’s clearest Aston Villa exit route appears to have been definitively closed after Juventus agreed a deal for Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Juventus had been negotiating with Villa over Martinez and submitted an offer worth around €10million, but talks collapsed over the structure of the fee and concerns surrounding the Argentina international’s broken finger.
The Serie A club have now moved on.
Tottenham have accepted an initial loan for Vicario, with Juventus holding an option to buy the 29-year-old for approximately £8.5m.
That represents a meaningful new step for Villa rather than another report claiming Juventus have simply cooled their interest.
Emi Martinez Aston Villa exit route now closed
ReadAstonVilla reported on Sunday that Juventus had walked away from their pursuit of Martinez.
At that stage, there remained at least the theoretical possibility that negotiations could restart if either club changed its position.
Vicario’s impending arrival makes that considerably less likely.
The Guardian reports Juventus turned to the Tottenham goalkeeper after failing to land Martinez, while talkSPORT says concerns over Martinez’s fractured finger were among the factors behind their decision.
Martinez sustained the injury before Villa’s Europa League final and played through the problem during Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
The financial difference is also notable.
Juventus can initially take Vicario on loan rather than commit immediately to a permanent transfer.
Zion Suzuki decision becomes even more significant
Villa now face their own goalkeeper question.
The club have already agreed a deal worth up to around £30m for Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, with the Japan international undergoing his medical on Monday.
Reports indicate Suzuki has been recruited with a view to becoming Villa’s new first-choice goalkeeper.
Yet Martinez remains contracted to Villa until 2029.
Juventus agreeing their alternative therefore does more than confirm the collapse of one transfer.
It leaves Villa approaching the Premier League opener against Brighton with two potential No.1 goalkeepers and no obvious destination for Martinez.
Unless another club enters the picture, Emery may now have to manage that situation rather than simply replace one goalkeeper with another.
