Ex-Aston Villa man feels Emi Martinez certain to leave after Zion Suzuki signing

Aston Villa are signing Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, and former club scout Bryan King feels Emi Martinez will leave as a result.

Martinez looked like he was going to leave Villa last summer, but remained and had a good campaign. This summer, though there have been links away, reports have largely suggested both he and the club want to stay together.

But Villa have now agreed to sign Japan international Suzuki from Parma, and David Ornstein reveals he'll be Villa's No.1.

That seems to suggest Martinez would be allowed to leave - though his route to Juventus which opened back up in recent days is gone, with Guglielmo Vicario signing for the Italian side from Tottenham.

In any case, King, who previously scouted for Villa, feels Martinez will be leaving.

He told Football Insider: "He won't have that. Martinez won't have that, that's for sure. I don't think Suzuki's a better goalkeeper than Martinez when he's on form.

"Everybody's saying how wonderful he was in the World Cup there, but he didn't impress me that much. He's a decent goalkeeper, but you're putting him against Martinez.

"I mean, Martinez, if he's in the right frame of mind, he's the best goalkeeper in the league. He's got this South American temperament, hasn't he?

"This Argentinian attitude. I quite honestly see that he could go, he isn't going to play number two to him."

Martinez was ready to leave

The Athletic insiders Ornstein and Jacob Tanswell have reported that Martinez was open to heading to Juventus when talks were ongoing, and that suggests he could be willing to make a move to another club.

That incoming keeper Suzuki is joining as number one is made evident, meaning Villa aren't too bothered whether or not Martinez leaves.

They didn't want to get rid of him around a month ago, but something has evidently changed in recent weeks.

It has also been suggested that Suzuki has only had his eyes on a move to Villa Park, despite recent reports that Paris Saint-Germain were working on a deal to sign him.

The Japan international is 23 and viewed as a great asset following performances at the World Cup.