Manchester United are reportedly prepared to rival Atletico Madrid for the signature of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Despite spending several years as a bit-part player at Arsenal, the Argentina international has now become number one for club and country.
A knee injury to Bernd Leno sparked Martinez's breakthrough at the Emirates Stadium in 2020, as he helped the Gunners to their 14th FA Cup triumph.
However, with Mikel Arteta reinstating Leno as his first-choice goalkeeper for the 2020-21 season, Martinez made the move to Villa Park in a £15.6m deal.
The 30-year-old has kept 27 clean sheets in 83 appearances for Steven Gerrard's side in that time, recording double-figure shut-outs in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Premier League seasons.
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Martinez is under contract at Villa Park until the summer of 2027, having only penned an extension in January, but his future is now being called into question.
A recent report had claimed that Atletico Madrid were lining up a move for the ex-Arsenal man, as current number one Jan Oblak could leave on a free transfer next summer.
Now, Football Insider reports that Man United are also contenders for Martinez's services, and the Red Devils are keeping a close eye on the South American with a view to a potential future move.
The Man United hierarchy supposedly view Martinez as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but Villa will demand a much bigger sum than what they initially paid for him.
Having tied Martinez down to a new long-term deal earlier this year, Villa are said to be after at least £45m to sanction the goalkeeper's sale in 2023, but an exit for David de Gea would free up some space in the Old Trafford budget.
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The Spaniard has now entered the final year of his £350,000-a-week contract with Man United, who do possess the option to extend his stay until the summer of 2024.
De Gea fended off competition from Dean Henderson last season to hold his spot as Man United's number one, but some of his performances this season have allegedly not satisfied those in power.
As a result, the Red Devils board are yet to decide whether to trigger the 12-month extension in De Gea's contract, and they could even let him leave for free next summer given his extortionate wages.
Man United have also been linked with a move for Everton's Jordan Pickford as De Gea's potential successor, with Erik ten Hag determined to instil a competent sweeper-keeper as his number one.
Martin Dubravka is still waiting for his Man United debut after joining on loan from Newcastle United with an option to buy, but Henderson will return from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest next summer.
Meanwhile, 36-year old Tom Heaton is out of contract next summer but could stay on for a further 12 months, and Under-21s goalkeeper Nathan Bishop is pushing to force his way into the first team.
Ben Knapton
