Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa is being considered by Bayern Munich as a possible replacement for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is set to miss the majority of the season due to a skiing injury.
Before joining Villa in 2020, Martinez, 30, had an intriguing journeyman career. He was originally signed by Arsenal but had stints on loan at Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolves, Getafe, and Reading.
Martinez made his Argentina debut in June 2021 after keeping 26 Premier League clean sheets in his first two seasons with Villa.
He won the 2021 Copa America Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper in the competition thanks to his rise to the top of La Albiceleste, and he then won another Golden Glove after winning the World Cup in a penalty shootout.
Bayern is without their starting goalkeeper due to Neuer’s leg fracture, and since they are only four points ahead of the Bundesliga, they are supposedly eager to find a successor in January.
TOP STORY: BAYERN’S NEW REPLACEMENT TARGES AN ARAGENTINA WORLD CUP HERO
Martinez’s World Cup exploits have put him at the top of the list, and Media Foot claims that it is “out of the question” for Bayern to exit the January transfer window without a new goalkeeper
Due to his long-term contract, which runs until 2027, Villa will have tremendous negotiating leverage. Having paid £17 million for him, they will probably be looking to sell him for a sizable profit in order to release their elite goalkeeper.
He is not, however, the only World Cup goalkeeper the German powerhouses are closely monitoring; according to Sky Sports Germany, they are also looking into Dominic Livakovic of Croatia and Yassine Bounou of Morocco.
According to that source, Bayern will attempt to lure Yann Sommer, 34, of Borussia Monchengladbach, to the team on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, but it won’t take care of their urgent need right now.
