Leeds United are close to signing back-up Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to AS.
The Spanish newspaper claim in their print edition on Tuesday that the Argentine, 25, is heading to Elland Road in a late January transfer.
AS do not state if Martinez will join Leeds on a permanent deal or on loan but it comes after manager Thomas Christiansen admitted on Monday that number two keeper Andy Lonergan could leave by Wednesday’s transfer cut-off.
The official Arsenal website announced in early August that Martinez had joined La Liga club Getafe on a season-long loan but he has struggled for game time and it is now said that deal could be terminated in order for him to move to the Yorkshire giants.
The Sunderland fan website Roker Report claim that Lonergan, 34, has agreed an 18-month contract with the Championship relegation strugglers after Football Insider reported that the two clubs were in talks over a potential swap deal involving Lonergan.
Good move for Leeds?
Maybe. Leeds could not be accused of signing a player this time who does not know the Championship. Martinez has had previous loan spells at Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham and Oxford United, although he was not always the first choice at those lower league clubs. It has been the case throughout his career for the Argentine, who has made only 13 Arsenal appearances in seven years at the club. Leeds fans will hope that someone who has trained every day with Petr Cech has the tools and mentality to deliver the goods and push Felix Wiedwald hard for his No1 spot.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10
Likely to happen?
Christiansen’s admission is a sure sign that a few Leeds keeper deals are in the offing. The manager is not one for delivering too many media revelations but the door is clearly open for Lonergan to leave. AS are a reliable source of information about Spain-based players and, if they state Martinez could move to Elland Road, the deal could be in the offing.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10