Juventus’s attempt to sign goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa is currently stalled, and negotiations are expected to continue at least until the conclusion of the World Cup, according to reports from TuttoSport. A key factor in unlocking the deal will be Martínez’s willingness to convince Aston Villa to accept a transfer, with the English club reportedly seeking a fee of at least €10 million for the 33-year-old.
Juventus are hesitant to meet that valuation for a player of Martínez’s age. The club are hoping the player’s desire to move to Turin will persuade Aston Villa to lower their asking price. A meeting on Wednesday morning between Juventus officials and Vlado Lemic, the intermediary representing Martínez, indicated the Italian club’s strong interest in securing his services.
From a contractual standpoint, Juventus and Martínez’s representatives have reached a preliminary agreement on a three-year deal worth approximately €5 million net per season. The discussion with the agent primarily focused on securing support in negotiations with Aston Villa, referencing prior commitments the English club had made to the player. However, Aston Villa are currently maintaining a firm stance on the transfer fee.
As the Martínez deal faces complications, Juventus are simultaneously exploring alternative options. Guglielmo Vicario, currently at Tottenham Hotspur, has emerged as the primary backup plan. Tottenham are reportedly open to a loan deal with a purchase option between €15 and €20 million, a structure that would allow Juventus to manage the initial investment. Juventus’s sporting director, Giovanni Carnevali, and Antonio Conte are evaluating all options to reinforce the goalkeeping position.
Should an agreement with Aston Villa fail to materialize, Juventus are prepared to prioritize the pursuit of Vicario. However, the club will initially wait until after the World Cup to fully assess the situation, hoping a resolution with Martínez can still be reached. This strategy allows Juventus to observe Martínez’s performance on the international stage and potentially influence the negotiations.
