Emi Martinez back as No.1 as Tyrone Mings and John McGinn to have say on PSR exits - Aston Villa favourite
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Credit: Imago
Jack Heath
Wed 3 September 2025 13:50, UK
Emi Martinez needs to start for Aston Villa despite links to Man United as transparency on PSR player consultations is required at the club, according to Stan Collymore.
The Villa shot stopper was the centre of transfer attention in the summer transfer window after Man United ramped up their search for a new goalkeeper given the shortcomings of both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
Ultimately, Man United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, ending the rumours between them and the Villains’ number one.
Despite major speculation, sources told Football Insider that Aston Villa made a U-turn on Martinez leaving the club as Unai Emery is expected to reintegrate the Argentine back into the team.
Former Liverpool and Villans striker Collymore backs this expectation as well as the club’s need to be open with Villa fans over behind the scenes PSR conversations with players.
Credit: Imago
Taking to X (3 September), Collymore responded to a Villa fan account questioning whether the World Cup winner should start against Everton after the international break following the culmination of the summer transfer window.
The ex-striker believed the shot stopper should be given the nod in goal again as well as the Midlands club’s hierarchy being open about their summer transfer strategy.
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This includes both the last minute loans for Jadon Sancho from United and Harvey Elliott from Liverpool as well as other discussions with current players due to the financial pressures the club is under.
Collymore said: “Yes [he starts].
The club needs to start looking after players who’ve proven their worth for us, we [Aston Villa fans] need to know how many players were told last summer ‘we may sell you for PSR’.
“We need to know how trustworthy players like [John] McGinn and [Tyrone Mings] feel about that, and we need to know what’s the recruitment strategy because last minute loanee sounds like panic not pages of players who tick specific, progressive boxes.
“A lot of questions that supporters should be given answers to.”
Football Insider verdict
Emery’s side remain winless in their first three fixtures with the international break coming at an ideal time to regroup and review their awful start.
No goals and one point is far below the usual standards of a club that has surged up the Premier League table in recent seasons, even becoming a regular on the European stage.
There is a high chance that the ongoing transfer speculation over key players and high earners could have had a knock-on effect on the team.
Aston Villa 2025-26 seasonGames played3Wins0Draws1Losses2Goals scored0Goals conceded4(Source: Sofascore)
Whilst fans are unsure about the talks behind the scenes, the Villa squad very well may have been told they could be shipped off to aid the club’s PSR pressures.
Now, with the transfer window shut, the Spaniard can purely focus on the players available at his disposal to try and spark the Villains’ season into life.
Martinez, in particular, will be needed to provide a sense of strong leadership and resolve to turn around the fortunes of the Midlands club.