Why doubts remain if 'world No 1' will remain Villa's No 1

Emiliano Martinez has made history at Aston Villa, but will he be part of their future?

Argentina continue their World Cup defence against Cape Verde on Friday, with Martinez attempting to become only the fourth goalkeeper to win the tournament twice.

The 33-year-old has been central to Villa's rise since signing from Arsenal for £17m in 2020, and they ended a 30-year wait for silverware by winning the Europa League last month.

Having gone close to leaving last summer, Martinez could still depart this year. Villa have been open to letting him leave as they look to trim the wage bill while also reducing the average age of the squad.

Manager Unai Emery's transfer priorities ideally lie elsewhere - he wants a winger, a right-back, a striker and a midfielder - but sales would aid Villa's ability to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).

Selling Martinez - with Juventus keen - would cause a minor headache, but he will be 34 in September and decisions need to be made.

There is no doubting his ability, and he remains one of Villa's most important players - shrugging off a broken finger in the warm-up of the 3-0 Europa League final win over Freiburg to help Villa make history.

He looked to leave last season, with Manchester United interested, and there is a feeling there could be a parting of the ways this year.

Ruben Amorim - then United manager - wanted Martinez last summer but was overruled by the club, who instead opted to sign the younger and cheaper Senne Lammens.

As deadline day loomed, Emery left Martinez out of the squad as Villa lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Martinez spoke about the failed move to United for the first time last month - and still left the exit door open.

"Sometimes football can change; managers can come in and go. In football people move around the place," he said.

"It doesn't mean that I don't have full respect for the club. I have a commitment with Aston Villa. I am a World Cup winner with Aston Villa. I have won two Golden Gloves with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club.

"We have a top coach, a top captain and a decent core of the team. When we stick together and when we fight together, I think that we can beat anybody. I am really proud to stay - I made the right choice."

Villa have planned for Martinez's exit. There is interest in Manchester City's James Trafford, 23, but much depends on his situation at Etihad Stadium after returning last summer from Burnley only for City to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Real Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro, 31, is also on the radar, along with Parma's 23-year-old Japan international Zion Suzuki.

Marco Bizot was an able enough deputy for Martinez last season but if the Argentine leaves, Villa would need a new number one.

Bizot was drafted in at short notice three times when Martinez pulled out late against Feyenoord, Brighton and Nottingham Forest. But, at 35, he is not a long-term option.

Martinez played 2,835 minutes in the Premier League last season - his lowest in the top flight in the past five years - and made his most errors leading to goals (three).

Opta's 'goals prevented', external statistic - a measure of the quality of saves a goalkeeper makes, utilising the 'expected goals on target' metric - had him at 3.5 last season. That was way down on the 7.5 from 2023-24 but up on last season's 1.2.

The 95 saves he made - with a save percentage of 71% - stands up to previous seasons, with the 39 goals he conceded the second least in the past five years.

Over the past five seasons only Ederson, David Raya, Alisson, Robert Sanchez and Nick Pope have conceded fewer goals per 90 minutes than Martinez's 1.27.

And only Jordan Pickford (21.8) and Liverpool's Alisson (12.7) have prevented more goals in the same period than Martinez (12.5).

His errors leading to shots (16) is the fifth highest in the league over the past five years, behind Jose Sa (19) Nick Pope (17) , Raya (22) and Sanchez (24). Only Sanchez (nine) and Bart Verbruggen (11) have made more mistakes leading to goals.

But in his 256 appearances for Villa, he has undoubtedly been a crucial member of the side's spine and helped transform them into genuine top-four contenders.

Martinez is introduced as the "world's number one" when the teams are read out at Villa Park - but doubts remain whether he will be Villa's number one come the start of the season.