David Tully Jul 22nd 2025
Man United made a formal approach to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez at the weekend, according to the Daily Mail reporter Dominic King.
The journalist is extremely reliable when it comes to transfers, and posting on X, he confirmed that the Red Devils have stepped up their attempts to snap up the Argentinian international:
“Manchester United have failed in an attempt to sign Emi Martinez on loan from Aston Villa. Offer was made over the weekend but rebuffed immediately. United still keen on 32-year-old.”
As King says, Ruben Amorim’s side remain interested in Martinez, but Villa’s asking price is said to be pretty steep. They are demanding around £40m.
Martinez wants to join Man United
The World Cup winner is keen on leaving Villa Park for a new challenge but he has already rejected the chance to make the switch to Saudi Arabia as he is hoping to stay in Europe.
Martinez is believed to be open to making the switch to Old Trafford but the costs to make the move happen are not insignificant.
There was hope that funds could be raised from selling Andre Onana but the Cameroon international’s injury has put an end to that strategy.
A cheaper alternative could be explored
King has also confirmed reports by Fabrizio Romano that the Red Devils are weighing up a move for Royal Antwerp shot-stopper Senne Lammens.
The Belgian would be considerably cheaper than Martinez, with reports suggesting that Antwerp would consider letting him go for around €20m (£17m).
A lot will hinge on potential outgoings. United are still looking to offload Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia, and if buyers can be found, it would free up the necessary funds to pursue either Martinez or Lammens.
In other news, Man United have ‘intensified’ their interest in a Bundesliga striker they first targeted 6 years ago
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.
