The 2022 FIFA World Cup has served the world with a number of breakout stars, as one of them has attracted serious attention from Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea. Argentina’s World Cup hero Emiliano Martinez is being tracked by United and Chelsea, as has been confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Aston Villa goalkeeper turned up big in the final against France, and kept an impressive three clean-sheets across his side’s 7 games at the tournament.
Emi Martinez was as pivotal to Argentina’s World Cup triumph as his captain Lionel Messi. Be it his extraordinary saves during the regular time, or penalty shootout heroics which helped his side prevail, all of Martinez’s antics saw him win the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper of the tournament in Qatar. And to top the cake with a cherry, he now has Manchester United and Chelsea on his trail.
Manchester United, Chelsea target Martinez could be a part of the ‘goalkeeper domino effect’
To truly speak of the World Cup in Qatar, it was rather dominated by goalkeepers stepping up for their teams. Right from the Golden Glove winner Emi Martinez, to Croatia’s Dominik Livaković, Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, Poland’s Wojciech Szczęsny. All the aforementioned names were at their peak as they helped their teams at the most crucial times.
And now, many of them have placed themselves on the radars of Europe’s elite clubs for a transfer in the upcoming January market or the next summer window. Martinez similarly could be a reason for a tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea, who both are looking for a top-level shot-stopper. Talking about the goalkeepers who are going to dominate the market over the next six months, Fabrizio Romano told CBS Sports’ House of Champions podcast:
“Let’s see in the summer, the domino effect will start with goalkeepers, maybe Chelsea or maybe with Manchester United. Emiliano Martinez could be one of them [who could potentially join these two teams if such a situation occurs].”
Manchester United are reportedly looking to replace David de Gea who has blown-hot blown-cold in recent months, with Emi Martinez at the top of his game in the same period. He helped Argentina clinch the Copa America last year, where Leo Messi labelled him as a ‘phenomenon’ after the goalkeeper’s penalty shootout brilliance in the semi-finals against Colombia, and a clean-sheet in the final against Brazil.
As far as Chelsea concerned, they are deep into the troubles regarding their goalkeepers Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mendy has experienced a massive dip in his form since some injury-laden months, and his struggles echoed at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Senegal. Kepa, despite his sudden surge of form which has kept Mendy out of the Chelsea starting eleven too is reportedly looking for a move somewhere else given the Blues’ failure to guarantee him a starter’s role.
Elsewhere, German giants Bayern Munich are actively pursuing a replacement of their number-1 Manuel Neur, who is out for the season after suffering an injury during skiing on his holidays. And at 36, Neur is already in his twilight years, with Bayern now wanting a long-term solution. Croatia’s World Cup hero Dominik Livaković is their priority, with Kepa Arrizabalaga being touted as their second choice.
Chelsea would then need a ‘keeper for their own if Kepa departs, and hence they could after Emi Martinez in this ‘goalkeeper domino’. Manchester United too want to acquire the World Cup winner’s services, however, Villa are understood to be far from putting the 30-year-old on the market. It would certainly take a massive fee, and some efforts from the player himself if either of Manchester United or Chelsea are to sign him.