Aston Villa keen to take advantage of England No1 Jordan Pickford’s contract standoff at Everton to replace Emi Martinez

Posted Sunday, January 01, 2023 by Thesun.co.uk

ASTON VILLA are keeping an eye on Jordan Pickford’s contract issues — as they brace themselves for offers for World Cup winner Emi Martinez.

England goalkeeper Pickford, 28, has yet to settle a new deal at Everton and that has alerted his admirers.

Jordan Pickford is on Aston Villa's radar

Those, of course, include Chelsea — as we first revealed in November.

But Villa are keen on him, too, if Argentine hero Martinez gets a big-money move in this month’s transfer window.

There has been a lot of noise from the Martinez camp about interest from several clubs.

Bayern Munich are among the big sides who may make a move.

If he does leave, that creates a gap for Pickford at Villa.

Villa boss Unai Emery said he'd hold talks with the World Cup winner on controlling his emotions.

Martinez's more than colourful World Cup celebrations caught the attention of his club boss.

His antics back in Buenos Aires have sparked controversy after he goaded France's Kylian Mbappe by holding a baby doll with the star's face on it during the victory parade.

That came after the former Arsenal ace’s obscene gesture after being awarded the Golden Glove for the tournament’s best keeper.

The Villa manager said: "I want to speak with him when he will come here next week but I am thinking more about his performance and his win, than his celebration.

"The celebration is for the supporters, with really big emotions. It’s not really a good moment as a coach to identify why.

"I prefer to be focused on how he performed and how he is going to win with us afterwards. I am going to speak with him because I want to control him about that as well - his emotions.

"We have to have values, we have to focus on behaviour when we are together and with the opposition players.

"We can speak in 90 per cent of the cases about very good things, and be very proud of him, for his performance, for his win. It is about more than small details like celebrations."