Aston Villa have been warned off parting with Manchester United-linked Emi Martinez as he is worth "10 points" to them over the course of a season.
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Villans need to sell in order to comply with PSRWorld Cup winner linked with a move elsewhereTalismanic figure is crucial to Unai Emery's causeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Serious questions are being asked of whether World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez will still be at Villa Park in the 2025-26 campaign. That is despite the Argentina international being tied to a contract through to 2029.
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With no Champions League football on the agenda for next season, the Villans will reportedly have to sanction sales this summer in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
It has been suggested that Martinez could depart, as one of the club’s most saleable assets, and the 32-year-old has seen moves to Old Trafford or the Saudi Pro League speculated on – with a surprisingly low £16 million ($22m) price tag being mooted. Villa are, however, being advised to do all they can to retain the South American shot-stopper.
WHAT EMILE HESKEY SAID
Former Villa striker Emile Heskey told when asked about the prospect of Martinez moving on: “Huge, huge blow. He’s been a mainstay and an outstanding servant for Villa.
“I think there were some pundits that said he’s a great goalkeeper. It could be as much as 10 points. He's probably been more than that. You know, he's been fantastic.
“An interesting character, which most goalkeepers are, but yeah, flamboyant and someone who's demanding and commanding in his area. You need that, you need that within a goalkeeper. Someone who's commanding in that area, and he definitely is that.”
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While urging Villa to keep Martinez on board, Heskey is not convinced that efforts should be made to bring Jack Grealish back to his native West Midlands from Manchester City – four years on from the England playmaker leaving in a record-breaking £100 million ($135m) transfer.
