Aston Villa star Emi Martinez emerges as target for Italian giants

Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has emerged as a possible target for Juventus this summer.

The Serie A giants are looking for a new keeper and reports in Italy claim Villa’s No.1 is on their shortlist.

Martinez was the subject of interest from Manchester United last summer and keen to make the move to Old Trafford.

But the Red Devils ultimately chose to sign Senne Lammens instead and Martinez stayed at Villa, helping them claim a fourth-placed Premier League finish and win the Europa League.

Boss Unai Emery is happy with Martinez and the club are not actively looking to move the 33-year-old out of the door.

But a substantial offer would give them something to consider, in a summer which will again be a balancing act as they seek to remain on the right side of Uefa’s financial fair play rules.

Potential replacements have already been scouted with Manchester City’s James Trafford expected to be among the targets should Martinez leave.No movement is anticipated before the World Cup, where Martinez will aim to defend the title he won with Argentina four years ago.

The former Arsenal man has not yet returned to full training as he recovers from the broken finger suffered in the warm-up before Villa’s 3-0 Europa League final win over Freiburg last month.

But he is, at this point, expected to be ready for Argentina’s first match of the tournament against Algeria on June 16.

With many players away at the World Cup, business in the market is likely to be slow during the first part of the summer.

Emery is eager to kick on and improve on his best season so far at Villa but is also aware the club must tread carefully in its spending. Villa agreed a settlement agreement with Uefa last summer after being fined £9.5million for previous breaches of the squad cost and football earnings rules.

Emery has already decided against triggering the £23m option to buy in midfielder Douglas Luiz’s loan deal from Juventus, while they are not expected to pursue a permanent move for Jadon Sancho.

Villa will listen to offers for Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey, who has just one year remaining on his contract.

Another player likely to leave, though perhaps only on loan, is right-back Andres Garcia.

The 23-year-old endured an injury-hit season and Emery is willing to let him depart to get more game time.

Bringing in a right-sided defender to provide cover and competition for Matty Cash is high on the club’s agenda.