It is a major page in the recent history of Aston Villa which could turn this summer. Arriving in 2020 from Arsenal in a certain anonymity, Emiliano Martinez has since built a very solid reputation across the Channel, to the point of becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the championship. In the space of six years, the 2022 World champion has made 252 appearances in all competitions with the Birmingham club, conceding 301 goals for 78 clean sheets. But the future of French football’s best enemy, who was already very close to packing up last summer, will inevitably shake up the summer transfer window, despite a contract running until June 2029.
Aware of this unstable situation, the management of Aston Villa is actively preparing for the future and is eyeing with great insistence the side of Ligue 1. According to our information, the English club has set its sights on two young French goalkeepers to take over from “Dibu”, now 33 years old. The first track leads straight to the north of France, near RC Lens, where Robin Risser is having an exceptional season. Recruited in Strasbourg after a particularly successful loan in Ligue 2 under the colors of Red Star, the native of Colmar has established himself as one of the great revelations of our championship.
Risser and Remains in Villa’s shortlist
His high-flying performances have not gone unnoticed. Author of 10 clean sheets for only 33 goals conceded this season, the French hopeful international goalkeeper is logically nominated for the title of best goalkeeper in Ligue 1. Better yet, his name circulates insistently around the France A team, he who is regularly supervised by Didier Deschamps’ staff. Although he enjoys very good ratings in the Premier League, the mission nevertheless promises to be complex for Aston Villa. The RC Lens is absolutely not a seller and it will be necessary to formulate a completely extraordinary offer to bend the Artesian direction according to our information.
Faced with the complexity of the Lensois file, Aston Villa is advancing its pawns on a second, equally attractive avenue: Guillaume Restes. If the Toulouse doorman is the same age as his Artesian counterpart, his situation is very different. The Pitchoun already has a wealth of experience with more than 100 professional matches in the TFC jersey, including 95 appearances in Ligue 1. The silver medalist and finalist of the 2024 Olympic Games with Thierry Henry’s French team is already considered a sure bet on the European market. The prospect of taking a new step in his career, far from his training club, could also make him a much simpler and quicker target to target than Robin Risser. The goalkeeper transfer window promises to be hot!
