Inter see laughable bid instantly ‘rejected’ by Aston Villa as ‘contact’ is made with representatives
Aston Villa have reportedly rejected a derisory bid from Champions League finalists Inter for Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentine goalkeeper joined the Premier League club from Arsenal for around £17million in September 2020 and has been a huge success at Villa Park.
He has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in world football and is now a crucial player for club and country, helping the latter win the 2022 World Cup.
Martinez has been linked with an exit over the last year or so with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United all looking for a new ‘keeper.
However, Aston Villa are in a brilliant position with Unai Emery in charge, qualifying for the Europa Conference League despite a slow start to 2022/23 under Steven Gerrard.
Martinez may not be looking to make a step up considering the amount of potential the Villans have.
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There has been interest from the aforementioned Premier League trio and in what has been a summer with a goalkeeper domino effect, Italian giants Inter have reportedly made a bid to sign the 30-year-old.
This is according to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, who says Villa have ‘rejected’ a laughable offer worth €15million (£12.9m).
Inter are ‘planning to make another higher proposal’ and there is no agreement with the player despite ‘contacts’ with his representatives, Edul says.
The Serie A side recently sold No. 1 Andre Onana to Manchester United and released Samir Handanovic, so will need to sign a replacement before the transfer window closes.
But £15m for one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League? That is absolutely outrageous.
It is not as if Martinez is out of contract next year; he signed a new five-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022 and is worth €28m, as per Transfermarkt.
Inter will probably have to pay at least treble what they initially offered, which does suggest this is not a deal they will get over the line.
Martinez has not played Champions League since November 2014, when Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at the Emirates, which is the only reason he may be open to joining Inter.
That day, he was captained by the man who sold him to Aston Villa: Mikel Arteta.
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