Joe Cole urges Chelsea to make a bid for World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez
Speaking in the All to Play For Podcast (h/t Express), former Chelsea forward Joe Cole has urged the Blues to table a bid for Argentina’s superstar goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez, who plays his club football for Aston Villa, was the Golden Glove winner in Qatar for being the best goalkeeper in the World Cup. His key saves late on against Australia and France in the last-16 and the final, along with penalty shootout saves were the highlights of his outstanding showing that helped Argentina lift the trophy at the end.
The 30-year-old has had a late surge in his career in the last couple of years since moving on from the bench at Arsenal to Aston Villa. He is now a World Cup and a Copa America winner with his country in these last 24 months.
Talking about him and what Chelsea should do, here’s Cole (h/t Express):
“I watched him [Martinez], he didn’t have that many shots to face because they were so good in front of him, but you know what he is good at? Crossing, commanding, and you know he’s connected to his back four. In the big moments, he delivered. If I’m Chelsea I am tabling a bid for him now. I think he was outstanding.”
Chelsea do have a slight issue in their goalkeeping department with Edouard Mendy, who was the club’s number one up until this season, has gone drastically out of form.
Since arriving at the club, Graham Potter has persisted with Kepa Arrizabalaga as his number one, but the Spaniard has shown in the past that he is prone to mistakes and brain-fart moments.
So, it is not a position where the Blues are exuding a lot of confidence. And we all know that if a team’s goalkeeper is not sure or confident, it affects the dynamics of the other 10 players on the pitch.
Martinez has shown to have all the attributes mentioned above and more. He has added clutch moments to his CV as well, which would help when under pressure.
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The 30-year-old still has a contract at Villa Park until the summer of 2027 (Transfermarkt). So, it might not be easy to prize him away from Birmingham. But, it is not impossible. Cole is right, Chelsea should table a bid before anyone else does.