Martinez Back on United’s Radar
Manchester United have reportedly taken concrete steps to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, according to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, who has a reliable track record on transfers involving his national team. The timing of the move aligns with recent speculation, as United have been repeatedly linked with the Argentina international since the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. Should this pursuit advance, it would suggest a shift in internal strategy, particularly given reports that Ruben Amorim was ready to continue with Andre Onana as the starting goalkeeper. Until recently, adding a new shot-stopper was not believed to be a priority at Old Trafford.
Martinez, who is widely regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the world, is likely to command a significant transfer fee. His record for producing remarkable saves at both club and international level has only grown since he helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022. The 32-year-old has since collected several individual honours, including two Yashin Trophies and two Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper awards.
Now five years into his spell at Villa Park, Martinez has amassed 256 appearances and kept 70 clean sheets. Last August, he signed a new five-year deal with the club. However, during his final home appearance of the campaign, he was visibly emotional—something that left manager Unai Emery uncertain about the player’s future. Emery said that it was unclear what might happen over the summer, noting that changes could still occur within the squad. Martinez’s final appearance of last season came at Old Trafford, where he was sent off for colliding with Rasmus Hojlund. The red card means he is set to miss the opening three matches of the upcoming season, though it remains unclear whether those games will be played in Villa colours or elsewhere.
Sancho Exit Edges Closer
Jadon Sancho is nearing a move to Juventus after reportedly agreeing a severance deal with Manchester United, clearing the path for his permanent departure from the club. The winger has been eyeing a switch to Turin since Chelsea opted to pay a £5 million clause to avoid activating a £25 million purchase option at the end of his loan. With no other serious interest materialising, Sancho has turned his focus to Serie A, which would see him add another top European league to his résumé alongside the Premier League and Bundesliga. A key sticking point in the negotiations had been Sancho’s insistence on receiving a pay-off before any transfer took place. This stance came to light late last week. According to Corriere dello Sport, United have now accepted those terms, enabling Sancho to proceed with personal discussions with the Italian club.
The deal is expected to bring United a total of £21.6 million including performance-related bonuses, although this still marks a considerable loss on the £73 million they spent to acquire the player from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. Sancho is set to leave Old Trafford a year before the expiration of his contract, bringing an end to a five-year spell in M16. During that time, he made 83 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists. While there were glimpses of improvement during his loan at Chelsea, his overall performances continued to fall short of expectations.