Juventus are prioritizing the signing of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, though negotiations with the Premier League club are proving difficult, according to reports from Italy. The Bianconeri, under new CEO Giovanni Carnevali, initially pursued Alisson Becker, but a change of plans at Liverpool has shifted their focus back to Martinez.
Juventus have reached a preliminary agreement with the 33-year-old Argentinian international, who is willing to sign a contract extending to 2029. However, Aston Villa are reportedly demanding a fee of at least €10 million plus bonuses for the World Cup winner, a figure Juventus are hesitant to meet. The club were hoping for a more favorable deal, but Villa are unwilling to offer a discount.
Carnevali acknowledged the club’s interest in Martinez, stating he is a “player of value and experience,” but also emphasized they are evaluating other options. He confirmed Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur is a potential target, though stressed there is no rush to finalize a deal, and other profiles are also under consideration. The Juventus CEO highlighted the need to find a goalkeeper “with the desire to come to Juventus with the objective of achieving important results.”
As a result, Juventus are actively exploring alternative goalkeeping options. Guglielmo Vicario, who spent three years at Tottenham, is seen as a viable and more affordable option. He is familiar to coach Luciano Spalletti from their time together with the Italian national team, where he serves as the understudy to Gianluigi Donnarumma. Tottenham are open to selling Vicario, and his wages are considered manageable, though his transfer fee would likely be in the region of €18-20 million. Carnevali has a pre-existing relationship with Vicario’s former coach Roberto De Zerbi, which could aid negotiations. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, currently at Napoli, is also under consideration, as the club anticipates his departure after just one season. Napoli are also reportedly interested in Vicario as a potential replacement for the Serbian goalkeeper. Milinkovic-Savic is known for his strong personality and penalty-saving ability, and is comfortable playing out from the back, attributes that would appeal to Spalletti’s tactical approach.
Other potential targets, such as Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, remain on the periphery. The situation remains fluid as Juventus seek a suitable replacement for Michele Di Gregorio.
