Emiliano Martinez willing to sacrifice wages for Juventus move

Emiliano Martinez is reportedly pushing to make a move to Juventus this summer, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper prepared to lower his salary demands in an effort to help complete the transfer.

The Argentina international remains under contract at Villa Park until 2029, but fresh reports from Italy suggest discussions behind the scenes are gathering momentum as Juventus look to strengthen their goalkeeping department.

While the player appears increasingly open to the switch, reaching an agreement with Aston Villa could prove far more complicated.

According to reports in Italy, Martinez has already informed Juventus that he is willing to reduce his current salary package to facilitate a transfer.

The 33-year-old is believed to earn around €9m per season in England and has reportedly indicated a willingness to accept less in Turin.

That gesture has encouraged Juventus to continue pursuing a deal, with further talks between the clubs expected in the coming days.

Martinez's representatives are also said to have communicated the player's desire to make the move, with the goalkeeper viewing Juventus as one final major challenge before the closing stages of his career.

Having already won major honours with Argentina and established himself as one of the Premier League's leading goalkeepers, the opportunity appears to appeal strongly to the Villa star.

Despite the growing optimism in Italy, Aston Villa remain under little pressure to sell.

Martinez still has three years remaining on his contract and continues to be one of the club's most valuable and experienced players.

That contractual situation significantly strengthens Villa's negotiating position.

Reports suggest Juventus would ideally like to sign the goalkeeper on a free transfer or for a minimal fee. However, Aston Villa are unlikely to entertain such proposals given the player's market value and importance to the squad.

Current estimates place Martinez's value at around €12m, and Villa would almost certainly seek a meaningful transfer fee before considering a sale.

Aston Villa have consistently shown they are prepared to negotiate departures, but generally only when the financial terms make sense.

Any deal could also depend on Villa's ability to secure a replacement.

Recent reports have linked the Midlands club with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, but the Portuguese side are believed to value the Ukrainian at more than €20m.

That means Villa would potentially need to spend considerably more on a successor than Juventus currently appear willing to offer for Martinez.

As a result, the financial gap between the clubs remains significant.

However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions, particularly if Martinez continues to push for the transfer and Juventus improve their proposal.

Juventus are expected to hold further discussions with Aston Villa in the coming days as they attempt to establish whether a deal is achievable.

The Italian club may need to improve their financial package significantly if they are to convince Villa to sell. Meanwhile, the Premier League side could intensify their search for a replacement should Martinez's desire to leave become stronger during the summer window.

Would Aston Villa be right to cash in on Martinez now, or should Unai Emery keep his first-choice goalkeeper for another season?