Leeds should keep tabs on ‘phenomenal’ £20k-a-week Argentine in wake of his boss’ comments – TBR View

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With Leeds United back in the Premier League after a 16-year absence, attention will have turned to bolstering the squad so the Whites can hit the ground running in the top flight.

According to a report in The Sun from late July, Leeds have apparently made a new goalkeeper a priority as they gear up for their return to Premier League action.

Arsenal’s Emiliano Martinez was said to be one of two keepers being eyed by Whites head coach and fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, along with Manchester United’s Sergio Romero.

The 27-year-old, who joined Arsenal’s academy in 2010 from Argentinian side Independiente and broke into the first team two years later, has made 37 competitive appearances for the Gunners.

Martinez excelled in the absence of first-choice Bernd Leno and helped Mikel Arteta’s side win the FA Cup at the start of August thanks to a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley.

In an interview with Argentina’s Radio Continental later in the month, Martinez made it clear that he will not settle for a place on the bench any longer.

“I showed that I can play, I need to play more games next season,” he said. “I want to establish myself at Arsenal and become first choice.

“If I don’t play, I’m going to move, I’m going to go where I play more.”

Arteta, meanwhile, recently told reporters that he doesn’t mind one of his goalkeepers being upset at missing out, so as to do all they can to win their place back.

When asked by Football London about whether it’s possible to keep both players happy, he replied: “I don’t want to keep them both happy, I want the one that is not playing to be upset.

“But upset and then challenge the next player to make him better, or if not, earn his place to do that. It’s not easy to do that.

“I personally don’t see any different with goalkeepers to full backs. They know that, I’ve been really clear with them and hopefully they can make each other better and hopefully the team better.”

Considering Martinez has been at Arsenal for a decade and isn’t even up to half a century of senior competitive appearances, he doesn’t – and shouldn’t – need to risk biding his time any more at this stage of his career.

Having stepped in superbly for Leno and shown that he’s more than capable of doing a great and consistent job in the first team, why should a player that Arteta previously deemed “phenomenal” risk going back to being a perennial bench-warmer?

Therefore, Leeds need to monitor proceedings closely, as there could be a very good goalkeeper looking for another club – a stopper with Premier League experience, a major trophy on his CV, international call-ups, fairly young, and reportedly on a current salary of just £20,000-a-week.