Manchester United fail with a loan bid for Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez
Manchester United have had a surprise loan approach for Emiliano Martinez turned down by Aston Villa, as the club scrambles for a short-term solution to their goalkeeping crisis following Andre Onana’s injury.
With the Cameroonian ruled out of the start of the Premier League season due to a hamstring tear, Ruben Amorim had set his sights on the World Cup-winning shot-stopper as a short-term fix. However, Villa immediately rejected United’s loan proposal, leaving the Red Devils still searching for alternatives.
Martinez was identified as the ideal figure to add experience and authority between the posts while Onana recovers. The Argentine veteran, who ironically was sent off at Old Trafford in the final match of last season, was viewed by Amorim as the perfect third pillar in a summer rebuild already reinforced by Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
According to The Daily Mail, discussions were held discreetly over the weekend, with United testing the waters for a possible loan deal. However, Villa were having none of it. Martinez is under contract until 2029, is a key figure in Unai Emery’s setup, and had already turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer. The notion of strengthening a direct rival, even temporarily, was quickly dismissed.
While Villa have publicly denied receiving formal contact, reports confirm that United’s interest is very real, though perhaps a little too ambitious under the circumstances. The club are also monitoring Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens as a younger and potentially more attainable alternative.
With Onana expected to return for the final pre-season game against Everton, the urgency lies in whether United want to take a short-term risk or invest in someone who could provide serious competition moving forward.
Villa, meanwhile, are holding firm on a valuation of around £40 million for Martinez, a figure that seems unlikely to tempt United into a permanent move unless there are major developments later in the window.
From a Manchester United perspective, this always looked like a long shot. Emiliano Martinez is a proven winner, still in his prime, and under long-term contract with a club that has no reason to weaken itself for United’s gain, especially after pipping them to a Champions League spot last season.
But it does highlight Amorim’s intent: he’s not content to just ride out Onana’s injury, he wants a strong, commanding presence from day one, and Martinez would’ve been just that. The club must now pivot quickly to other options and ensure the goalkeeper situation doesn’t derail early progress.
The good news? Amorim is ambitious. The bad news? Villa aren’t in the mood to do us any favours.