Aston Villa have made a second offer for Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans.
The journalist, who has sources at the Midlands club, claims the Villans’ revised bid is much closer to the £20m price tag which the Gunners’ have slapped on the Argentinian international:
#AVFC have lodged a second bid for #AFC goalkeeper Emi Martinez. Understood to now be substantially closer to Arsenal’s £20m asking price.
Now it’s a waiting game.
Story @TheAthleticUK :https://t.co/BLGJaVdzRo— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) September 7, 2020
It will be interesting to see whether Arsenal accept the offer for Martinez. The Argentine is said to be willing to stay at the Emirates if he is made number one ahead of Bernd Leno. However, the London club do need to raise funds for other signings.
That £20m could be used to make further bids for the likes of Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey who the Gunners are very keen on snapping up before the transfer window closes.
With Leno a top-class keeper in his own right, head coach Mikel Arteta may feel that they could sacrifice Martinez as they look to rebuild the squad ahead of the new campaign.