Aston Villa have identified England’s World Cup star as the frontrunner to replace their key player
Aston Villa have identified England’s World Cup star as a key replacement target if he leaves this summer, according to reports.
What a season it has been.
Villa capped the campaign of the year with a 2-1 win at Man City on the final day, Ollie Watkins scoring twice in the second half after Antoine Semenyo had put the hosts ahead.
It was also Pep Guardiola’s last game after ten years in charge at the Etihad.
However, the league campaign is only part of the story.
The Europa League victory over Freiburg in Istanbul – Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers all scored in a 3-0 win – delivered the club’s first European trophy since 1982.
Emery has personally targeted the former Norwich City star and the Aston Villa duo who are expected to leave
The Spaniard has him on his summer shortlist.
Champions League football was wrapped up thanks to Liverpool’s 4-2 demolition at Villa Park last week, meaning the rest of the night was about their silverware.
Unai Emery has taken this club to a place that no one could have imagined when he arrived three years ago.
Summer should be about building on all of that. And it will be.
But there is one important issue that could become a major talking point: the future of Emiliano Martínez.
As we previously reported, Liverpool have identified the 33-year-old World Cup winner as a potential long-term replacement for Alisson.
Villa are already looking at alternatives – Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes and RC Lens’ Robin Risser were both linked earlier this month – but according to Tom Collomosse of the Daily Mail, the club have a clear first goal if the “big” Martinez leaves.
Aston Villa are eyeing James Trafford as the number one replacement for Emiliano Martínez
Man City goalkeeper James Trafford, 23, is Villa’s first choice.
The England international has spent the season as Ederson’s back-up at the Etihad, having made just three Premier League appearances since re-signing from Burnley for £27m last July.
City ended interest in Newcastle to return him to his alma mater, but first-team opportunities were limited and Trafford’s development required regular football.
He got a lot of that at Burnley.
In his final season at Turf Moor, Trafford kept 29 clean sheets – 25 in the Championship alone – as Scott Parker’s former side won promotion to the Premier League.
Those games saw him called up for the first time in England, and this week Thomas Tuchel named him in his 26-man squad for the World Cup alongside Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson.
It will be his first international cap, a player’s prize that has increased significantly in the past two years despite some frustrating minutes for City.
Trafford’s contract at the Etihad runs until 2030, giving City a negotiating position.
The Mail report did not specify the fee, although any deal would likely require City to repay the £27m they paid 12 months ago.
For Villa, the investment will make long-term sense.
The 23-year-old Englishman from Trafford has proven he can handle the pressure at the highest level, and is eager to play every week. If Martinez leaves, the gloves need to go to someone who can fill them for the next decade.
Trafford fits that description exactly.
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