Could Emi Martínez leave Aston Villa this summer?
A report from Football Insider suggests Aston Villa may need to sell a key player by June 30th to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules, and Martínez is considered a likely candidate to be sold.
There is significant interest in the two-time Yashin Trophy winner.
Manchester United`s interest is documented by Goal, while The Telegraph reports that several Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in acquiring him.
Given Emi Martínez`s ability to produce `defining moments` and `standout performances,` as highlighted by Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic, he will be difficult to replace. But has Aston Villa identified a potential upgrade?
Aston Villa`s Primary Target to Replace Emi Martínez
According to a report by John Townley for Birmingham Live, Aston Villa will target LOSC Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier if Martínez is sold.
French publication L`Équipe has previously noted that European champions Paris Saint-Germain are tracking the 23-year-old, with TEAMtalk suggesting his value is around £34m.
Chevalier joined Lille at age 13 and has since made 127 senior appearances, conceding 127 goals and keeping 44 clean sheets.
So, could he soon be swapping Northern France for the English Midlands?
Why Lucas Chevalier Could Be an Upgrade on Emi Martínez
Chevalier has received significant praise during his three seasons as Lille`s first-choice goalkeeper.
Alongside Rayan Cherki of Lyon, he was one of the few non-PSG players to make the Ligue 1 team of the season.
Following Lille`s impressive 1-0 Champions League win against Real Madrid in October, L`Équipe`s Joel Domenighetti praised Chevalier`s performance as `exceptional.` Nick Hartland of Get French Football News called him `one of the breakout stars` of this season`s competition.
Scout Jacek Kulig describes him as `one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Europe.` According to Liam Tharme and Matt Pyzdrowski of The Athletic, his strengths include `excellent reach,` `exceptional handling,` and a `super-strength` in `accomplished` play with the ball at his feet.
So, how does the young Frenchman compare to the man he could potentially replace at Villa Park this season?
The table below offers an interesting comparison, considering both players featured for a nearly identical number of minutes across their domestic leagues and the Champions League this season.
| Chevalier vs Martínez: 2024/25 Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistic | Chevalier | Martínez |
| Appearances | 48 | 49 |
| Minutes | 4,350 | 4,275 |
| Goals Conceded | 53 | 57 |
| Clean Sheets | 13 | 14 |
| Post-shot xG – Goals Conceded | +9.6 | +4.7 |
| Saves | 123 | 144 |
| Save % | 74.9% | 72.8% |
| % Crosses Stopped | 5.4% | 11.3% |
| Ball Recoveries | 83 | 45 |
| Errors Leading to Opp. Shot | 4 | 8 |
| Note: Martínez`s statistics include Premier League and Champions League only. | ||
| Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com | ||
Across Europe`s top five leagues, the Frenchman ranks tenth for post-shot xG minus goals conceded. He is also 11th in this season`s Champions League for the same metric, which was a key factor in Lille`s impressive seventh-place finish in the league phase.
Post-shot expected goals (PSxG) is a metric that assesses the likelihood of a goalkeeper saving a shot.
Furthermore, his save percentage is high both domestically and in the Champions League. His Ligue 1 figure of 74.6% is notably higher than Martínez`s 69% in the Premier League.
This is not intended to diminish Martínez`s standing in any way, especially considering former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton has described the Argentine as an `outstanding goalkeeper` and a `brilliant shot-stopper` since he joined in 2020.
Nevertheless, if Aston Villa can sell the 32-year-old for a significant fee and bring in a 23-year-old replacement, this would certainly represent a desirable upgrade.
