Arsenal make Emi Martinez transfer decision amid Aston Villa interest - report

Aston Villa transfer news: Gunners goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has already been the subject of two offers from Aston Villa who are keen to sign a new goalkeeper

Arsenal have reportedly decided to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez amid transfer rumours linking him with Aston Villa.

According to The Independent, Mikel Arteta's side have made the call on Martinez having failed to convince him to stay on as deputy to Bernd Leno.

Leno missed the final nine matches of the Premier League season after injuring his knee in a collision with Brighton and Hove Albion forward Neal Maupay during a match at the American Express Stadium.

Leno is back fit and is said to be preparing to start the 2020-21 Premier League opener at Fulham on Saturday lunchtime, with Martinez to be benched despite ending 2019-20 as Arsenal's number one.

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Martinez, who spent time on loan at Reading last year, helped Arteta's team win the FA Cup last season and Community Shield in August.

It is being claimed that Dean Smith's side have agreed a four-year contract with Martinez, with the Argentinian to be paid around £60,00 a week.

Martinez, it is said, would like to stay in the Premier League with La Liga side Villarreal keen on landing the 28 year-old.

The goalkeeper was the subject of a second bid from Villa earlier this week, but Arsenal value him at £20m.

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Smith is keen on signing a new goalkeeper after last season's first-choice stopper, Pepe Reina, returned to Italy following the end of his loan from AC Milan and has signed a contract with Lazio.

Orjan Nyland lost his place to Reina after lockdown while Jed Steer and Tom Heaton ended the campaign injured.

Lovre Kalinic is out of favour and Matija Sarkic departed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.