Blues icon Joe Cole has urged Chelsea to sign Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez after being impressed by the goalkeeper’s performance in the 2022 World Cup.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has reportedly turned down a new six-year contract offer from Chelsea after being unhappy with the figures offered.
It is hardly a surprise given he was effectively paid far below Kepa Arrizabalaga despite being the first-choice goalkeeper under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel.
The current manager, Graham Potter, opts to use Arrizabalaga as his number one, so there is a possibility that Mendy decides to leave if the situation does not change.
If Chelsea were to bring in a replacement goalkeeper, Cole seems to have a clear candidate in mind.
“Martinez for me,” the former England international told the All to Play For podcast.
“I watched him, he didn’t have that many shots to face because they were so good in front of him, but you know what he is good at? Crossing, commanding, and you know he’s connected to his back four.
“In the big moments, he delivered,
“If I’m Chelsea I am tabling a bid for him now. I think he was outstanding.”
Martinez obviously played a significant role in Argentina’s World Cup-winning campaign and, as Cole pointed out, he was reliable in big moments for his country.
However, the 30-year-old just signed a new long-term deal with Villa last year which ties him to the club until the summer of 2027.
So, any club would likely have to pay over the odds to convince Villa to let him go, although Fabrizio Romano previously claimed Martinez’s going to Chelsea is possible.
Chelsea also already made an investment in young goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire.
The 18-year-old is obviously not ready yet for the big stage, but Chelsea owners might be reluctant to spend big on another goalkeeper.
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