Chelsea will be hoping that next season, they are not entrenched in a battle to qualify for the Champions League alongside Aston Villa amongst many sides.
Considering how much the Blues have invested into their squad, the Stamford Bridge faithful would be hoping that Enzo Maresca guarantees a comfortable finish in the Champions League spots in the following campaign.
However, Chelsea are yet to build a consistent side as throughout the season, they have been one of the most unpredictable teams in the Premier League.
It goes without saying that several players at Maresca’s disposal can be considered upgradable, with Robert Sanchez’s performances coming under fire in particular this season.
Chelsea were targeting Gregor Kobel during the winter transfer window to replace the Spaniard as well.
Chelsea make approach to sign Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez
Another goalkeeper who has caught Chelsea’s eye is Emiliano Martinez, with journalist Edu Burgos revealing that they have approached the World Cup winner to sign him in the summer.
However, several clubs are in the race to sign Martinez, who could leave Aston Villa in the summer.
In Spain, the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid have approached Villa to try and prise the £17 million (BBC Sport) man away.
While in the Premier League, Manchester United have also followed suit.
However, Chelsea, United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to make an official offer to sign Martinez, who Gabriel Martinelli lauded, according to Edu Burgos.
The Argentine’s priority is to sign for a club that can offer him Champions League football next season.
Comparing Emi Martinez and Robert Sanchez’s stats
Unai Emery referred to Martinez as “the best goalkeeper in the world” and he would be desperate not to lose the former Arsenal goalkeeper in the summer.
However, Aston Villa will perhaps be seeing the bright side of the 32-year-old’s potential exit as they could demand a significant fee from suitors as his contract expires in 2029.
Furthermore, Martinez’s heroics at club and international level would mean Villa would understandably demand a pretty penny.
From Chelsea’s perspective, here is how his stats compare to Sanchez’s.
| STATS | ROBERT SANCHEZ | EMILIANO MARTINEZ |
| SAVE PERCENTAGE | 76% | 72.1% |
| CROSSES STOPPED | 12.2% | 11.2% |
| DEFENSIVE ACTIONS OUTSIDE PENALTY AREA | 1.84 | 0.89 |
| PSGXG-XA | +0.05 | +0.09 |
Based on the numbers, one would assume that Sanchez and Martinez are on a similar level.
However, the latter is far less error-prone than the former.
Meanwhile, Sanchez has been rather inconsistent since his final season at Brighton & Hove Albion and is becoming a liability for Enzo Maresca.
