Chelsea have agreed a £7.5 million deal with Aston Villa to sign goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as they look to strengthen their options between the posts.
Martinez, 33, is expected to leave Villa after the club signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for almost £30 million. Juventus had also shown interest in the Argentina international but opted to sign Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur.
The move could raise questions over Chelsea’s current goalkeeping options, with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders also competing for a starting role at Stamford Bridge.
Penders started Chelsea’s Carabao Cup victory over Luton on Thursday after Sanchez was selected for the Premier League match against Fulham.
Chelsea are not competing in European competition this season, making the need for three senior goalkeepers a potential talking point. Penders has also recently returned from a loan spell at Strasbourg.
Sanchez had been expected to remain Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, although his performances have occasionally attracted criticism.
Martinez’s potential arrival also comes despite previous suggestions that Chelsea were not actively seeking an experienced goalkeeper. The club came close to signing AC Milan’s Mike Maignan last summer but were unable to agree a transfer fee.
The Argentine is regarded as one of the world’s leading goalkeepers, despite his outspoken personality and sometimes controversial approach.
Chelsea will hope Martinez can provide greater consistency and experience as the club continues its rebuilding process.
Sanchez remains capable of producing outstanding performances, but his display against Fulham again raised concerns after he was criticised for helping the visitors remain competitive in the game.
