Unai Emery has already told Emi Martinez how to repair Aston Villa relationship as transfer collapses

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Manchester United appear set to move forward with a transfer deadline day move for goalkeeper Senne Lammens, ending their brief interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery omitted Martinez from their squad for the Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday night, later saying he was not focused amid a late move from United.

However, it now looks like United will sign Antwerp stopper Lammens on a permanent deal, and will not go forward with their interest in Martinez.

World Cup-winner Martinez could still depart Villa Park, especially with the Saudi Arabian and Turkish transfer windows still open beyond Monday’s Premier League deadline, but he could also face a realistic scenario where he must stay at Villa.

Unai Emery said he would ‘not refuse’ any player who wanted to leave Aston Villa, wants players who are committed

Speaking in 2024, when midfielder Moussa Diaby left against his wishes, Emery confirmed that he would never stop a player from leaving Villa.

He said: “A very good offer & he said he wanted to accept it. We opened the door because when a player gives this message, we won’t refuse him to go.”

In January, with Arsenal heavily linked with striker Ollie Watkins, Emery made a point of highlighting players who were committed to the project at Villa.

“I don’t want [to sell],” Emery said. “We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.”

And on another wanted player, Jhon Duran, Emery said: “Our objective here is to keep our structure because we want to keep the level high. I want to keep him here, but we have to respect it. It’s good news to have offers from other clubs – but we want to keep our best players.”

Unai Emery comments about Ollie Watkins show how he might deal with Emiliano Martinez

When Watkins stayed at Aston Villa in January, Emery said: “The commitment of Ollie Watkins with us is a huge commitment. He appreciates a lot how Aston Villa was always supporting him, helping him, and when we [the current coaching staff] joined him here two years ago, how we worked with him, always trying to get the best of him.

Emiliano Martinez record at Aston Villa (Source: Transfermarkt)

• Games: 213
• Goals conceded: 257
• Clean sheets: 70

“Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here, to be here and commit with us here and to be with our challenge. One of those is Ollie Watkins.”

Emery clearly wants to work with players who are committed to his project, so his evident frustration with Martinez this weekend could cause friction in their relationship if the goalkeeper does end up staying.

So there is a clear path to forgiveness for Martinez, just like Watkins, but the goalkeeper must make the first move.