Tottenham are now said to be interested in signing Emiliano Martinez – a player who Arsenal actually sold in 2020.
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Well, the Argentina international – who is expected to start against France in the World Cup final this Sunday – is said to be a target for Spurs, according to Dean Jones.
Martinez was sold to Aston Villa in a £17m deal by Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal back in 2020, despite only just breaking into the first-team following an incredible amount of loan spells away from the Emirates Stadium.
The 30-year-old was loaned out to Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolves, Getafe and Reading before getting a chance in north London following an injury to Bernd Leno.
However, those six loan spells affected Martinez, who told Football Daily that Arsenal “stopped him loving football” by constantly shipping him out on temporary deals without giving him an opportunity in the first-team.
The South American said: “Then I knew I would have to go back to Arsenal and they wouldn’t give me a chance, so I would have to go on loan, so those years were really difficult, at some point I stopped loving football.”
If these comments didn’t already anger Arsenal fans, joining their bitter rivals Tottenham would surely make him public enemy No.1 at the Emirates Stadium.
TOTTENHAM MAY HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE ON GLOVESMAN ARSENAL LET DO
If Antonio Conte really does want to sign Martinez as the Italian searches for a long-term successor to Hugo Lloris, he may have to spend a large chunk of his budget.
As aforesaid, Aston Villa spent £17m on the Argentine, which is no small fee, and he has only improved at Villa Park, so that price tag may have even trebled – it is at least £30m right now, in our view.
Add in the fact that Martinez has a contract with Aston Villa until June 2027, and we can’t see Unai Emery letting him go unless Spurs offer an irresistible amount of money.
