Unai Emery has admitted that he and Aston Villa need to resolve their relationship with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, fueling speculation about a potential move away from the club. Martinez was surprisingly omitted from Villa's squad that suffered a 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, further intensifying rumors of a possible transfer to Manchester United.
The Argentine international's future has been a recurring topic of discussion, particularly after a proposed move to the Saudi Pro League failed to materialize earlier this year. However, with concerns growing over the performances of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir at Old Trafford, Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for the 2022 World Cup winner.
Adding to the intrigue, Emery responded to questions about Martinez's future by repeatedly mentioning the name of new signing Marco Bizot, who had a difficult outing against Crystal Palace, conceding a penalty. The penalty was conceded after Bizot brought down Daichi Kamada, and Jean-Philippe Mateta converted the resulting spot-kick.
"We have to fix it with him," Emery told Sky Sports, referring to the situation with Martinez. "The transfer window finishes tomorrow, and we are hoping to make improvements to the squad. But we are remaining calm." Emery's comments suggest that Martinez's future is uncertain and that Villa could be open to offers for the goalkeeper.
Emery added, "One of the situations we are speaking about is Emi Martinez, but we will see tomorrow. Then we will try to find the balance and try to work after the break and try again at Everton to recover our mentality." The manager's words indicate that a decision on Martinez's future will be made imminently.
Since joining Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has established himself as one of the Premier League's top goalkeepers. Only Everton's Jordan Pickford (577) has made more saves than Martinez (531) in the league during that time. His shot-stopping ability and commanding presence in the penalty area have made him a vital asset for Villa.
Emery also hinted at potential incomings before the transfer deadline, as he looks to bolster his squad following their disappointing start to the season. Villa have failed to win any of their opening three league games for the first time since the 2017-18 Championship campaign. The defeat to Crystal Palace was also their heaviest home loss since a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham in March 2024.
Furthermore, Villa are the only team in the Premier League yet to score in 2025-26. So far, the club has signed Bizot, Yasin Ozcan, and Evann Guessand, but Emery is eager to add more players to his ranks. "Yes, we need some players, but now we have what we have, and we need to try to get more balance again, more than in the transfer window," Emery explained.
"You get balance with the players tomorrow after the transfer window, and after the break, we have a lot of players with the national team. This is one of the developments we have had in the three years here, a lot of players with national teams, and we are playing in Europe… sometimes keeping this level is not easy," he stated. Emery acknowledged the challenges of maintaining consistency, particularly with players frequently involved in international duties.
"We are frustrated when we are not able to have the level of performance, but I am confident that we can find the balance and the structure in everything, and our mentality too," Emery concluded, expressing his belief that the team can overcome their current struggles and find their rhythm.
The coming days will be crucial for Aston Villa as they look to address both the uncertainty surrounding Martinez's future and the need for new signings to strengthen the squad. With the transfer deadline looming, Emery faces a race against time to ensure his team is well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
