In a stirring twist to the transfer window, Atletico Madrid have reportedly initiated negotiations for two seasoned Aston Villa players as part of an audacious Premier League acquisition. Villa, having narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification after an agonising last-minute defeat at Manchester United, are bracing themselves for potential player departures amidst ongoing financial restraints.
The Midlands club might be compelled to sell some of their more experienced assets to mitigate the financial shortfall this summer. According to Football Insider, Atletico could be eyeing an exchange that would see them acquiring two of Villa’s distinguished over-30 stars.
One player at the centre of transfer speculation is goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, whose emotional farewell to the Villa Park faithful following their match against Tottenham Hotspur has fuelled rumours. With links to both Saudi Arabia and Manchester United swirling, Martinez appears to be contemplating his future away from Villa. However, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have now emerged as possible suitors for the Argentine shot-stopper.
In a bid to balance the books, Villa might also part ways with their left-back, Lucas Digne. Reports suggest Digne is in discussion with Atletico, with Villa valuing the 31-year-old Frenchman at £10m. Digne, who previously played in Spain with Barcelona before joining the Premier League, is well-regarded in Birmingham but faces competition from Ian Maatsen, Villa’s Champions League finalist left-back who was recruited from Chelsea.
In addition to Digne, Football Insider claims Atletico are also interested in Liverpool’s Andy Robertson. While Robertson’s commitment remains uncertain, Digne appears to be a more attainable target for the La Liga side.
Despite Martinez’s mixed performances last season, his market appeal persists. Yet, complications might arise given Atletico’s current custodianship, with Jan Oblak still serving as their formidable first-choice goalkeeper under contract until 2028. It remains unlikely that Martinez, having previously endured understudy roles at Arsenal, would willingly assume a secondary position elsewhere.
While Atletico’s pursuit of Digne seems feasible, their interest in securing Martinez’s services might prove more challenging, especially with Manchester United also reportedly in the mix.
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