Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez is reportedly on the verge of joining rivals Manchester United ahead of next season.

According to Clarin via Sport Witness, Emiliano Martinez is ready to make the move to Old Trafford this summer. He is all set to swap Aston Villa for Manchester United, and the presence of a release clause in his contract has played a big part in it.

Martinez has not looked back since joining Aston Villa from Arsenal in the summer of 2020. While the experienced goalkeeper is yet to win a trophy with the Birmingham-based club, he has certainly been one of their standout performers. He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world thanks to his exceptional performances for both club and country.

Having guided Argentina to the World Cup and two Copa America titles, he is now eager to taste some success at the club level. While he still has four years left on his deal at Villa Park, the 32-year-old is eager to join a bigger club.

Manchester United are set to sign Martinez

Emiliano Martinez has been pushing for a move this summer, and his future has been a major talking point since his emotional farewell to the fans at the end of last season. While Aston Villa are reluctant to sell, the report suggests there is a €25 million release clause in his contract, which makes things easier for interested clubs.

Manchester United are the ones who are very keen on signing him. Ruben Amorim was not pleased with Andre Onana’s performances last season, and he has already given the green light to Martinez’s signing. The Red Devils have made the most progress in talks to sign the Argentine international.

Reports earlier suggested Aston Villa would demand a fortune for Martinez, and it certainly looked unlikely that United would fork out a big fee to sign him, given they already had Onana, and strengthening other areas on the pitch was a priority for them.

However, the existence of a bargain release clause has completely changed things up. Manchester United see this as a great opportunity to bolster the goalkeeping position, and they do not want to miss out on him. They are in talks with Aston Villa as they look to finalise a deal that would be worth just in excess of the clause.

The Red Devils are willing to pay more as they want to avoid a situation where they have to pay the entire amount up front. Everything seems to be in place for Martinez to make the move to Old Trafford. While Manchester United have not been at their best in recent seasons, this would still be a qualitative leap for the Argentine goalkeeper.