Aston Villa have received a new bid from Juventus for Emiliano Martinez and the gap between valuations of the goalkeeper is now narrowing.
The Serie A club have shown a willingness to pay up to €10million, comprising an initial €7m plus €3m in add-ons based on team success.
That falls short of the €10m guaranteed price Villa currently want, although the sides are moving closer to reaching a compromise.
Personal terms with the 33-year-old Argentina international will not be an issue.
The Athletic reported on Saturday that Martinez was in negotiations to leave Villa this summer, with the Premier League club stepping up their pursuit of Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
With discussions over Martinez progressing, Villa began considering pushing ahead with a deal in the region €30million for Japan international Suzuki.
It is the second successive summer where the Argentina international’s Villa future has been uncertain. Manchester United were in talks with him last summer, and they made a loan bid in the latter stages of the transfer window which was rejected. United ultimately signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
Martinez is contracted to Villa until 2029, having signed fresh terms in August 2024.
He made 44 appearances in all competitions last season as Villa recorded a fourth-placed Premier League finish and won the Europa League.
Martinez was also a prominent figure for Argentina at this summer’s World Cup, starting all eight of his nation’s matches as they were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final.
He joined Villa from Arsenal in September 2020 and has made 256 appearances for the club.
Martinez’s departure would add to a significant summer of change at Villa Park, with Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne having already departed, while uncertainty continues over Ezri Konsa’s future.
