Arsenal are 'ready to sell Emiliano Martinez as Mikel Arteta sees fit again Bernd Leno as his No 1 despite the Argentine's FA Cup final heroics'
Arsenal are willing to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to reports.
The 27-year-old was one of the heroes for the club after replacing Bernd Leno between the sticks following the Premier League's restart - and has also insisted that he is determined to become a first-choice stopper.
But The Athletic claim that Arsenal still view Leno as their main goalkeeper and believe they have no choice but to offload the ambitious Martinez during the current window.
Arsenal are prepared to offload FA Cup hero and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez this summer
Bernd Leno will remain the club's first-choice goalkeeper despite Martinez's lofty ambitions
Leno has fully recovered from the serious knee injury that saw him stretchered off from a fiery encounter against Brighton in June and is expected to regain his spot as a regular starter under Mikel Arteta next season.
A valuation of £20million was placed on Martinez under the stewardship of former head of football Raul Sanllehi. However, after his departure earlier this month, the club now accept they may have to entertain lower offers.
The same report suggests Martinez hopes that, following ten years of service, Arsenal will accept a fee below their initial price tag to help him seal a switch away.
Martinez hopes that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will accept bids below their price tag
Martinez has two years remaining on his current deal, and is believed to earn £20,000-a-week. His representatives, however, have been actively trying to secure him fresh terms for some time.
These talks were delayed - but Arsenal will be expected to pay a bonus should Martinez leave in the near future due to an understanding that any pay rise for the Argentinian would be retroactive.
A number of clubs in England and Spain are reportedly tracking Martinez, with Valencia and Real Betis already having registered their interest.
Arsenal are expected to enter the market for a new second-choice goalkeeper should Martinez leave, and Brentford star David Raya has been identified as a potential target. The west London club will understandably be reluctant to sell him.
A number of clubs in England and Spain are tracking Martinez's situation in view of a swoop
Martinez has also openly expressed his desire to work his way towards becoming the No 1 goalkeeper for Argentina.
'I have shown the club that I can play for them and when I return next season, I need to have more games. That is the only way I will stay at Arsenal,' he told radio station Continental earlier this month.
'My target is to consolidate my place with Arsenal and to become the Argentina No 1. I won’t stop until I get that and if I don’t play for Arsenal, then clearly, I would move on.'