Chelsea have agreed a £7.5m price to signal Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentina worldwide, 33, is about to bear a medical in London and strengthen the goalkeeping group at Stamford Bridge.
It follows issues over the performances of Robert Sanchez, significantly within the wake of Monday’s 3-2 win over Fulham.
Sanchez, who has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2023, allowed Josh King’s shot to slide by his grasp on the close to publish. He then spilled one other effort right into a harmful space within the second half, permitting striker Gonzalo Garcia to attain.
The transfer represents a outstanding turnaround in opinion at Stamford Bridge. These in cost had been eager to again Sanchez however have opted to maneuver for Martinez days earlier than the switch deadline.
Chelsea even have Mike Penders, a £17m signing from Genk, amongst their choices. He’s line to make his debut within the Carabao Cup towards Luton City on Thursday night time.
Villa have been prepared to promote Martinez since signing Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m earlier this month.
It is usually the newest in a collection of offers between Chelsea and Villa.
The Blues signed ahead Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117m, whereas Alejandro Garnacho moved in the other way on an preliminary mortgage deal final month.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, valued at about £65m, was finishing a medical at Villa Park on Thursday as he prepares to reunite together with his former Villarreal supervisor, Unai Emery.
The golf equipment are identified to have an in depth relationship. They have been additionally concerned in a deal extensively described as a ‘PSR swap’, which noticed defender Ian Maatsen be a part of Villa and Omari Kellyman, now at Strasbourg, transfer to Chelsea.
Juventus tried to signal Martinez earlier within the switch window, however the deal collapsed due to issues over a finger harm.
The Italian membership as a substitute signed Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on mortgage.