Chelsea's Late Move for Emi Martinez Amid Sanchez Criticism

Chelsea are exploring a late move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez after the Argentina international was offered to the club by his representatives.

The approach comes in the same week Robert Sanchez’s position came under sharp focus, with the current No 1 heavily criticised for an error in Monday’s win at Fulham that dragged the hosts back into the game.

Martinez on the market after Villa reshuffle

Martinez is expected to find a new club after Aston Villa moved decisively for Zion Suzuki, signing the Japan international from Parma for close to £30m. That deal has opened the door for the 32-year-old World Cup winner to leave after four highly successful years at Villa Park.

Juventus had shown interest earlier in the window but opted instead to sign Guglielmo Vicario from Spurs, leaving Martinez’s future unresolved as the window ticks down.

Since joining from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has become one of the elite goalkeepers in Europe. He has made 256 appearances for Villa, anchoring a side that has climbed under Unai Emery from mid-table uncertainty to regular Champions League qualifiers.

His spell at Villa includes a Europa League triumph in May and a central role in guiding the club into two Champions League campaigns under Emery, underlining his status as a big-game, big-moment goalkeeper.

Serial winner with Argentina

On the international stage, Martinez’s record is even more striking. He helped drive Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and was between the posts again as they finished runners-up at the 2026 tournament.

He has also collected two Copa America titles, in 2021 and 2024, and lifted the Finalissima in 2022, cementing his reputation as a penalty specialist and a commanding presence in high-pressure matches.

Merson: ‘One of the best in the world’ – but not a title fix

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Martinez would represent a major upgrade in goal for Chelsea, even if he does not see the signing alone turning them into title contenders.

“Martinez is available and he can be hard work sometimes. He comes across like that. But he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Merson said.

“And if Chelsea want to get back to being one of the best in the world, you've got to have a top goalkeeper.”

Merson stressed that Sanchez is capable of spectacular displays but argued that his inconsistency is undermining Chelsea’s progress.

“Robert Sanchez is usually a good shot-stopper. This weekend, or against Arsenal at the Emirates in two weeks' time, he could be mind-blowing. He could make save after save after save and you'll sit there and go: 'Wow.' He could save Chelsea next week,” he said.

“I don't like picking on goalkeepers because it's a hard job – and you make one mistake for every 50 mistakes the outfield players make with their passing.

“But the match against Fulham was another game that he brought the other team back into the game. At 1-0 you were looking at it and thinking this is going to be three or four. But he lets in a cheap goal and all of a sudden the game has turned on its head really. It looked like Fulham were the team that were going to get the next goal.”

Merson pointed to the contrast with Arsenal’s David Raya.

“I've never known a team ever win anything without a top goalie. I'm sitting there now thinking when was the last time David Raya made a mistake? The Wolves game in February maybe? But once. In February.

Sanchez makes one mistake a week nearly. And a goal may not come from it, he might kick the ball out for a throw-in.

“Against Fulham, Chelsea were dominating, he takes a great catch from a corner and he plays a terrible throw out to Cole Palmer. That happens week in, week out. And the ball could be intercepted, the ball goes back into the box and the opposition score out of nothing.”

Even so, Merson does not believe Martinez alone transforms Chelsea into title challengers.

“But I don't think Martinez takes Chelsea towards the title,” he added. “You look at Arsenal's squad and if you change a player, it hardly weakens the team. Every position is solid.

If you look at Chelsea, they've got a lot of players in each position, but it weakens the team. The name of the game for Chelsea is to make sure when this season finishes, they are playing Champions League football next season. It's as simple as that.

They came 10th last season. And you've got to learn to walk before you can run.”

Chelsea now face a stark question: stick with a volatile talent in Sanchez, or bet big on a proven winner in Martinez to drag them back to Europe’s top table.