Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign the goalkeeper from Aston Villa at a time when the club have a late decision to make over the faith in Robert Sanchez.
The club have shown incredible loyalty to Sanchez up to now, but insiders say that new boss Alonso had internal discussions over the summer about the possibility of adding another goalkeeper to the squad, and Martinez's name did already crop up in those talks ahead of the new Premier League season.
Listen to Flashscore News!
Selected editorial stories, including this article, are also available as audio. Listen and follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
His name is back on the agenda as the opportunity to sign him has cropped up on the back of a concerning display from Sanchez in an opening-day 3-2 win over Fulham.
Martinez is looking for a new club and Aston Villa are willing to let him leave for less than £10million.
Sanchez has had great support from Chelsea up to now, but some figures within the club consider it a risk not to sign an additional, experienced goalkeeper before the deadline.
Chelsea have been planning to go through the season with Sanchez as the No.1 and Mike Penders, 21, as his back-up.
The club have been tempted to sign another keeper before now, and the latest opportunity is one they are having to take seriously. Goalkeeping targets for Chelsea have included both Mike Maignan and Diogo Costa.
But this latest situation could fit similarly to the way the side have added Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson to the squad this summer - although Martinez, 33, still offers top level consistency as well as experience.
English Premier League
The 2026/27 Premier League season is underway. From reports and analysis to all the big breaking news, Flashscore is your one-stop shop to keep up with all the drama from the world's most-followed football league.
The club are very cautious about blocking the pathway of Penders, who they still believe is going to be their long-term goalkeeper. And his situation is one they are wary of - as well as Sanchez - while debating whether to now follow up on the chance to sign Martinez.
Argentina keeper Martinez is being touted around Saudi Arabia and MLS clubs as well as Europe right now. Tottenham are one of the clubs also offered the chance to sign him, as he would be keen to stay in the Premier League if possible.
Juventus had looked at a deal, but that fell through, and with the September 1 deadline now on the horizon, Chelsea must decide if they add another experienced goalkeeper to their squad.
The attraction of Martinez is obvious. He knows the Premier League, has vast experience at the highest level and would arrive for a relatively modest fee.
Follow the remaining few days of the transfer window with Flashscore!
Dean Jones is a transfer news and football insider for Flashscore, since 2025. He has been a journalist on leading UK newspapers and websites over the past 20 years, establishing himself as an authoritative and trusted voice in the industry.
