Emiliano Martinez has turned down the latest contract offer from Arsenal, with Aston Villa making a bid for him and reportedly willing to pay him more than the Gunners.
The goalkeeper starred for Arsenal after replacing the injured Bernd Leno in the first team in the final few league games of the season and their remarkable run to winning the FA Cup.
The 28-year-old was in fine form as the Gunners downed Manchester City in the semis and then Chelsea in the final and did enough to keep his place for the Community Shield, despite Leno being fit again, which Arsenal also caused an upset to win.
After this string of fine displays, Martinez wants to keep hold of his place in the starting XI and if Leno comes back into the first team, then the Argentinian will look to move on.
Villa are keen to sign him and have made a bid of around £15m, which Arsenal are considering after Martinez has rejected their latest contract offer.
The Gunners want to keep him at the club, but cannot necessarily guarantee him the first team football that he is looking for and their contract offer reflects that.
report that Villa are willing to offer him a more substantial contract and guarantee him a place in the first team at the same time.
As such, it seems that a move to Villa Park is looking more and more likely for Martinez as the new season draws near.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said after the FA Cup final: ‘Emi has shown in the last few months what he’s capable to do for this football club, I am convinced he has the level to play for us consistently at that level, he showed that today in a final.
‘I cannot stop the speculation or what people write about us.’
