Atletico Madrid have identified Emiliano Martinez as a potential replacement for goalkeeper Jan Oblak next summer.
A recent report from La Razon has offered an update on the future of Jan Oblak. It appears Atletico Madrid are preparing for life without their prized goalkeeper, whose contract at Wanda Metropolitano expires in 2023 and Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez has been identified as an ideal replacement.
The deadline day arrival of Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona has taken a hit on Atleti’s salary structure. It will force them to offload one of the star players, with Oblak topping the charts due to his hefty salary. And upon his potential departure, the club could set their attention on Martinez.
Formerly of Arsenal, the Argentine shot-stopper has enjoyed stellar success since leaving Emirates and after making a telling impact for the Gunners during the second half of the 2019/20 campaign. At Aston Villa, he has turned into one of Premier League’s best goalkeepers, notably registering a save percentage rate of 76.8% last term.
Martinez’s profile rose further during the summer, when the 29-year-old starred in Copa America, helping Argentina end their 28-year search for an international trophy. Earlier this summer, Atletico Madrid had already snapped one of the protagonists of La Albiceleste‘s Copa America campaign, in the form of Rodrigo de Paul.
Diego Simeone, being an Argentine himself, is keen on building on that by signing Emi Martinez as the desired replacement for Oblak next term. Over the past 18 months, the former Arsenal star has shown that he is capable of performing at the highest level of football and could be a great value for money signing for the Rojiblanocos.
However, Aston Villa won’t be all too keen on offloading their prized goalkeeper. They still have a three-year contract with Martinez, although it appears the goalkeeper will likely hand in a transfer request should Simeone & co. come calling, knowing he will have the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League as well as the chance of further grow his reputation.
As for Oblak, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the Slovenian international. Highly regarded as one of the top three goalkeepers on the planet, the former Benfica prodigy is certainly going to attract a lot of attention, if made available in the market. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United for a long time, but with most top clubs in Europe already having a goalkeeper, it will be interesting where he joins if he is to leave Atletico.
