Aston Villa exclusive: Bent reacts as Martinez signing nears

Darren Bent believes Emiliano Martinez will have been given assurances that he will be the number one goalkeeper at Aston Villa.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Villa striker delivered his verdict after the Argentine was left out of Arsenal’s squad for their 3-0 win at Fulham on Saturday.

Football Insider revealed that Martinez has completed a medical at Aston Villa who will pay the Gunners an initial £17million which could rise to £20million with add-ons.

The Midlands giants are also willing to triple the 28-year-old’s wages and are set to offer him a £75,000-a-week contract.

Last season Tom Heaton, Orjan Nyland, Jed Steer and Pepe Reina all played in goal for Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Reina has left the club following his loan spell while Heaton is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered on New Years Day.

Asked by Football Insider whether Villa are taking a risk on Martinez given his limited Premier League experience, Bent said: “He doesn’t have an awful lot of top flight experience but Aston Villa have been a bit weird with goalkeepers.

“They’ve had (Orjan) Nyland, they’ve had (Pepe) Reina, they’ve had (Jed) Steer, they’ve had a few goalkeepers and (Tom) Heaton has been out injured.

“Since Heaton’s been out injured none of the goalkeepers have set it alight, so when Heaton comes back they’ll have two good goalkeepers then it’s a straight battle.

“What I don’t want to happen is, to send him to Aston Villa, then he’s back as a number two, I’d rather see him stay at Arsenal if that’s the case.

“He’s obviously been given assurances he’ll be Villa’s number one, so we wish him all the best.”


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By: Football Insider speaking to Darren Bent
Title: Aston Villa exclusive: Bent reacts as Martinez signing nears
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/bit-weird-exclusive-bent-makes-bold-aston-villa-claim-after-17m-signing-reveal/
Published Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 06:15:02 +0000