Aston Villa are monitoring Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu as the future of current number one Emiliano Martinez remains unclear, according to Fussballdaten. The Villans face competition from Bournemouth, Inter Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt for the 21-year-old German shot-stopper.
Martinez has attracted interest from several high-profile clubs, most notably Juventus, following his impressive performances for Argentina, including a record-breaking 11 saves in the recent World Cup final loss to Spain. Former Villa player Henri Lansbury has suggested that Martinez may be open to a move, stating that the goalkeeper will likely be tempted by offers from larger clubs.
Atubolu, who is valued between €25-30million (£21.2-£25.5m), enjoyed a successful 2023-24 season with Freiburg, playing every minute of their Europa League campaign and keeping five clean sheets en route to the final where they lost to Aston Villa. The club are reportedly intensifying negotiations and preparing an attractive offer for the player, viewing him as a suitable fit for their system.
Villa are also considering other goalkeeping options, including Japan international Zion Suzuki, but Atubolu is currently seen as a leading candidate should Martinez depart. The club has made contact regarding a deal for Suzuki, though he is also attracting attention from Leeds United and Newcastle. The potential sale of Martinez could free up funds and create an opportunity for Atubolu to establish himself as Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper.
