Aston Villa have shortlisted Emiliano Martinez’s countryman as his possible successor, should he opt to leave Villa Park this summer.
Aston Villa’s goalkeeping department seems to be entangled in uncertainty this whole summer until Emiliano Martinez himself makes a statement on his future and a meeting between both parties takes place. There have been conflicting statements about the Argentine’s future and little clarity surrounding it.
Aston Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, has released an official statement regarding Martinez’s future, which has clarified the club’s stance on his exit rumours. No deal has been agreed with Juventus. The latest statement from Luciano Spalletti, the manager of La Vecchia Signora regarding their genuine interest in the 33-year-old goalkeeper has sparked the rumours again after they had cooled down recently.
Thus, according to a report in El Crack Deportivo via Sport Witness, Villa are considering alternatives from outside Europe.
“Aston Villa shortlisted Racing Club goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses with a move to Villa Park.”
The 29-year-old goalkeeper has been the key man at Racing Club. His contract runs until December 2027, which gives his current club an advantage in negotiations. They are aware that several clubs are circling around him and are ready to place a price tag on Cambeses. His release clause is fairly low for any English club, at about £8.8 million.
Apart from Villa, Bologna and River Plate have also shown interest. Should Martinez leave, joining the Lions would probably be the best option for him. He is already 29 years old and has no experience playing in Europe.
Signing for Unai Emery’s side would not only give him the opportunity to play under a top manager but also to compete at the highest level in the Premier League as well as the Champions League in the 2026/27 season.
Cambeses has made 62 appearances for Racing Club since 2024 and has kept 26 clean sheets so far. He was part of the squad when Racing won the 2024 Copa Sudamericana and the 2025 Recopa Sudamericana (CONMEBOL Super Cup), although only as the understudy. After being the first-choice goalkeeper, the former Banfield man helped his club reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Copa Libertadores before losing to Flamengo.
The goalkeeper, who has only one international cap, excels in almost every aspect, making him an ideal replacement for Martinez. Based on the data from FotMob, his save percentage this season is 75.3%, plus he has a 100% penalty save rate. He has acted as a sweeper 10 times and made nine high claims. His pass completion rate is 65.7%. He only needs to improve his long-ball accuracy, which currently stands at just 31.7%. That is something that would be particularly important in the Premier League.
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