Aston Villa is set to join the race to sign a La Liga top talent in this summer transfer window.
Aston Villa appear to be looking for more targets to add squad depth or invest in younger but top talents. Their latest target is currently at La Liga side Real Sociedad. Their young defender, Jon Martin, has gained interest from a number of clubs. According to a report in Sportboom, Villa is one of them.
“Aston Villa has carried out comprehensive budget planning to officially inquire about the situation of the Spanish centre-back and present an opening bid.”
The Lions will be in a tussle with Arsenal, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, as they are all monitoring the situation of the young centre-back. Unfortunately, that would not be easy to pull off.
Martin is a product of the Real Sociedad academy. He is tied to a contract until the summer of 2031. Thus, La Real is in control of the negotiations and can raise their asking price when necessary.
His current value is around £22 million, but his team is unlikely to release him easily in the summer transfer window. The Spanish outfit could, in fact, demand at least £43 million to sanction a move for their valuable asset.
Aston Villa have joined the race as they see the 20-year-old defender as an investment for the future. His talent might look slightly expensive now, but it could be worth a lot more in the years ahead.
The Claret and Blue are hoping the connections of their sporting director, Roberto Olabe, and Emery himself with Sociedad could help smooth the deal. The chance to play in the Champions League is hopefully appealing enough for Martin to consider a move to the West Midlands.
The young centre-back was promoted to the first team in 2023/24. He has made 50 appearances for the La Liga side so far, scoring two goals and providing one assist in all competitions. Martin was one of the key players when La Real, under Pellegrino Matarazzo, won the Copa del Rey last season.
Martin excels in aerial duels and blocking shots. He is capable of helping the attacking build-up from the backline with short passes. Based on data from FotMob, he made 248 defensive contributions, including 159 clearances, 34 interceptions, and 24 blocked shots.
His successful dribble rate is 66.7%, while his duel-winning percentage is 65%. Meanwhile, his pass completion rate is pretty impressive for a defender, reaching 91.2%. Martin’s xG (expected goals) is 1.99.
Martin is certainly an upgrade on Tyrone Mings, who has been struggling with physical fitness and injuries. Not to mention that he is already 33 years old. The same applies to Victor Lindelof, who was only signed on a short-term deal. The Lions definitely need more convincing backup for Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres in the backline.
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