Inter Milan have bid for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who they hope will replace Andre Onana, though a report claims they’ll have to double their opening offer.
Onana recently joined Man Utd for an initial £43.8m that could rise to £47.2m through add-ons. The Cameroon international was on top of his game throughout his lone season at the San Siro and signing an adequate replacement is now top of Inter’s agenda.
Back-up stopper Samir Handanovic has also departed, with the Slovenian leaving as a free agent. According to Fabrizio Romano, the two keepers Inter sized up to fill the void were Yann Sommer (Bayern Munich) and Anatoliy Trubin (Shakhtar Donetsk).
However, while a move for Sommer is progressing, Trubin is proving more difficult so sign. Per SempreInter, negotiations regarding Trubin have ‘stalled’.
Instead, TyC Sports bring news of Inter turning their attention to Aston Villa ace, Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentine World Cup winner is arguably Villa’s best player and has proved an inspired signing since his £20m arrival from Arsenal. He was named Villa’s Player of the Season in the 2020/21 campaign and was named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in 2022.
Inter have duly taken note and per TyC, have lodged a €15m (approx. £12.9m) bid for the 30-year-old.
Unsurprisingly, Aston Villa considered the bid ‘insufficient’ and Inter have been sent packing. However, the story might not end there.
The report notes Inter have actually been courting Martinez since the World Cup. It’s claimed the club’s representatives initially made contact with Martinez’s camp while he was in Qatar.
Inter are expected to bid again for Martinez and TyC claim they’re ‘optimistic’ of reaching an agreement when all is said and done.
To do so, a bid of roughly double their opening offer will reportedly be required – €30m (approx. £25.8m). Indeed, the article states Aston Villa ‘would want about double what Inter offered’ first up.
Losing a player of Martinez’s undoubted class would be a significant blow to Villa, even if they did make a profit on a player who is now the wrong side of 30.
Emery’s side have made a series of impressive signings this summer in the form of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby.
With a return to Europe on the horizon and a fresh influx of high quality players, losing Martinez is the last thing Aston Villa need right now.
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