Barcelona not ruling out summer swoop for World Cup-winning goalkeeper | OneFootball

The transfer rumour mill has been buzzing lately about the future of Emiliano Martinez, and Barcelona’s name keeps popping up.

The 32-year-old Argentine goalkeeper, who played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, is reportedly still being considered by the Catalan giants, even though Aston Villa have made it clear he is not for sale.

According to a recent update from El Chiringuito TV, Barcelona have not completely ruled out the idea of signing Martinez.

This comes after days of mixed reports, where it first emerged that the Blaugrana had approached Martinez’s camp.

At that point, it looked like the club was seriously exploring the option of adding him to their squad, especially amid growing concerns over their goalkeeping department.

Barcelona’s goalkeeper plans up in the air

Officially, Aston Villa are standing firm. The Premier League side insist that Martinez is staying put, with his contract running until June 2029.

Emiliano Martinez is on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

They also denied having any talks, not with Barcelona or any other club. That has not stopped the speculation, especially with Barcelona reportedly still considering their options.

Barcelona are expected to see Inaki Pena leave this summer in search of regular playing time. While Wojciech Szczesny is likely to remain at the club, he is being viewed as a backup option for the upcoming season.

That leaves Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the first-choice goalkeeper, but doubts are beginning to creep in.

Despite being the club’s captain, there are concerns about Ter Stegen’s fitness and recent performances.

While there is no suggestion that Barcelona want to push him out just yet, the club is clearly keeping an eye on the situation and that is likely why Martinez remains on their radar.

Even if no formal negotiations are taking place right now, Barcelona are not closing the door on Martinez. If anything changes with Ter Stegen or if Aston Villa soften their stance, the Argentine could quickly become a top priority.