Chelsea Explore Late Move for Emi Martinez Amid Sanchez Scrutiny

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 with current No 1 Robert Sanchez under heavy scrutiny following his costly error in Monday’s win at Fulham, a performance that has sharpened focus on Chelsea’s goalkeeping department at a critical stage of the season.

Martinez on the market after Villa reshape

Martinez is expected to find a new club after Aston Villa moved decisively to sign Zion Suzuki from Parma in a deal worth close to £30m. That transfer has opened the door for the World Cup winner to leave, with his camp now sounding out potential destinations.

Juventus had shown interest in the 32-year-old but ultimately chose to sign Guglielmo Vicario from Spurs, leaving Martinez’s future unresolved as the window enters its final stretch.

What is not in doubt is his pedigree. Since joining Villa from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has played 256 times for the club and grown into one of the most respected goalkeepers in the game. Under Unai Emery, he helped Villa win the Europa League in May and was a key figure as they secured two Champions League campaigns, underlining his influence in both domestic and European competition.

A serial winner for club and country

Martinez’s CV with Argentina reads like a golden era in fast-forward. He backstopped his country to the World Cup title in 2022 and was in goal again as they finished runners-up at the 2026 tournament. On top of that, he has lifted the Copa America twice, in 2021 and 2024, and added the Finalissima in 2022.

It is that track record in high‑pressure games that makes his availability so intriguing for Chelsea, a club trying to claw its way back to Europe’s elite.

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

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Martinez would be a major upgrade between the posts, even if he does not see the move as a shortcut to the Premier League trophy.

“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 did not spare Sanchez in his assessment. He acknowledged the Spaniard’s shot-stopping ability but argued the error count is simply too high for a team with Champions League ambitions.

“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,” Merson 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.”

Then came the comparison 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.”

Merson, though, drew a clear line between signing Martinez and launching a title charge.

“I don't think Martinez takes Chelsea towards the title. 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.”

For him, the target is obvious and non-negotiable.

“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.”

Whether Chelsea decide Martinez is the man to steady their first steps back towards Europe’s top table now becomes one of the window’s most compelling late calls.