Emi Martinez is poised to join Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5million – the fourth deal involving the clubs this summer.
The Argentina goalkeeper has been surplus to requirements at Villa Park since the club signed Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month.
It means Martinez, Lucas Digne, Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans should all have left by the end of the transfer window – and they were four of Villa’s highest earners.
That creates space in the wage bill for Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka and – perhaps – Rafael Leao.
Villa’s financial offer to Leao is considerably lower than that offered by Galatasaray, but Villa hope the chance to play in the Premier League will sway it for the AC Milan forward.
More to follow
