Manchester United’s search for a new goalkeeper has been the talk of the Premier League, with the Red Devils’ turbulent 2024-2025 campaign thrusting their shot-stopper situation into the spotlight. After a season marred by high-profile errors and a dramatic tumble down the table, United’s decision to stick with Andre Onana—despite making overtures to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez in January—has become a major talking point as the summer transfer window opens.
United’s woes between the posts were emblematic of a campaign that saw the club finish a shocking 15th place, missing out on European football for only the second time in 35 years. It’s a statistic that stings, and one that has fans and pundits alike questioning the club’s choices. According to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, United reached out to Aston Villa in the winter window regarding Martinez, the Argentine international who has twice been named Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in the past three years. Ultimately, United opted to keep faith in Onana for the remainder of the season—a decision that, in hindsight, may have cost them dearly.
Onana’s struggles were well documented. The 29-year-old Cameroonian made a series of costly blunders, including two glaring errors in a 2-2 draw against Lyon during the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final. That match also saw Onana embroiled in a public spat with former United and current Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, who didn’t mince words. Matic, responding to Onana’s assertion that “Lyon are a very good team but I think we are better than them,” branded the United keeper “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history.” Ouch! The criticism proved prophetic, as Onana’s mistakes directly led to both Lyon goals, and he was roundly jeered by the French supporters throughout the game.
It wasn’t just a one-off. Onana’s form failed to recover, and his confidence seemed to spiral. Manager Ruben Amorim, who took the reins amid the club’s crisis, eventually dropped Onana for the April clash against Newcastle. In his place, Altay Bayindir stepped up, but even he wasn’t immune to the pressure, committing a costly error in United’s 4-1 defeat to the Magpies. The revolving door in goal only underscored the club’s instability and the urgent need for a reliable presence at the back.
Meanwhile, over at Aston Villa, Emi Martinez continued to impress. Five years after arriving from Arsenal for £20 million, Martinez has been nothing short of a revelation for Villa, helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2024-2025 season. His performances have not gone unnoticed; in December, he was named Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper for the second time in three years, cementing his status as one of the world’s elite keepers.
But all signs now point to a summer of change. Martinez, 32, appeared emotional and in tears during Villa’s final home game of the season—a 2-0 win over Tottenham in May. Many interpreted his reaction as a possible farewell to the Villa Park faithful. The drama didn’t end there: Martinez was sent off in the final Premier League match, a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, which ultimately saw Villa miss out on Champions League qualification to Newcastle. Asked about his future ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers, Martinez remained coy, telling reporters, “I don’t know, I come here to play for the national team, and that’s the only thing that matters to me right now. Do I want to move to a new club? The transfer window just opened, so there’s still a long way to go.”
Villa’s situation is further complicated by the constraints of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, which limit their ability to overhaul the squad as much as they might like. According to BBC Sport’s Nick Mashiter, “Villa are stuck where they cannot revamp the squad to the extent they may want, but it does feel like it needs more freshness.” The club’s reliance on Martinez has been clear, and his potential departure would leave a significant void.
In Martinez’s absence, Marco Bizot has stepped up for Villa, deputising admirably when called upon. The 34-year-old Dutchman was the only debutant in Villa’s opening day draw with Newcastle last August and has performed well when given the chance. However, Mashiter cautions against seeing Bizot as a long-term solution: “Even at 34, I feel Bizot still cannot be considered as a real long-term option. Villa signed Martinez when he was 28 for £20m, buying a goalkeeper who was coming into his prime and the Argentina international has repaid them, even if he may have favoured a move to Manchester United in the summer.”
It’s not just the goalkeeper position causing headaches at Villa Park. The club’s attacking options have also come under scrutiny. Donyell Malen, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025, has struggled for minutes, making just four league starts and starting back-to-back games only once, in February against Tottenham and Ipswich. Villa’s attacking burden has largely fallen on Ollie Watkins, who led the team with 16 league goals. Morgan Rogers added eight, while Jhon Duran, who departed in January, chipped in seven. Mashiter points out that Villa “need someone to ease the burden on Ollie Watkins and if Watkins does not score—despite ending his drought against Fulham last month—there has not been enough back-up.” Malen, versatile but not an out-and-out striker, may have arrived at the wrong time, playing second fiddle to Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Still, Mashiter suggests, “if he is going to make a consistent impact, the time is now.”
Back at Old Trafford, the question remains: will United reignite their pursuit of Martinez this summer? TyC Sports reports that the Red Devils are indeed interested if the Argentine moves on from Villa. Given the instability at the goalkeeper position and the club’s desperate need to steady the ship after a disastrous season, it’s no wonder that United’s gaze has returned to Martinez. His experience, leadership, and proven track record at the highest level make him an attractive target for a club in need of both talent and character.
As the transfer window opens and both clubs face pivotal decisions, fans are left to wonder what the next chapter holds. Will Martinez make the leap to Manchester United, finally filling the void left by David De Gea’s departure and Onana’s struggles? Or will Villa find a way to hold onto their star keeper and rebuild around him? With the summer market just heating up and World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, the drama is far from over.
For now, all eyes are on the movements of Martinez and the strategies of both United and Villa as they look to bounce back from seasons that ended in disappointment. The coming weeks promise plenty of intrigue—and perhaps a few surprises—as two of England’s storied clubs chart their paths forward.
