Aston Villa have already started preparing for life after Emiliano Martínez . According to Transfer Feed , the Premier League club have placed Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes high on its shortlist if the Argentine completes a move to Juventus . The report adds that Villa have already held detailed discussions with the 21-year-old's representatives and have broadly agreed personal terms before any formal bid reaches Toulouse.
The French club have reportedly fixed an asking price of around £20 million (€23 million) for one of their brightest academy graduates. That figure has caught attention because Restes already carries plenty of top-flight experience despite his age. During the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season, he featured in 33 league matches, played 2,940 minutes, kept nine clean sheets, and conceded 45 goals, helping Toulouse secure another comfortable mid-table finish.
Restes has already collected close to 100 Ligue 1 appearances, a remarkable return for a goalkeeper who only turned 21 this year. He continues to represent France at Under-21 level and remains firmly on Zidane's radar for a future senior international call-up. With uncertainty surrounding Martínez's future, Villa appear keen to move before competition for the young goalkeeper intensifies.
TOULOUSE, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 09: Guillaume Restes of Toulouse celebrates the 1st Toulouse goal during the Group E – UEFA Europa League match 2023/24 match between Toulouse FC v Liverpool FC at Stadium de Toulouse on November 09, 2023 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Replacing Martínez is about far more than replacing a goalkeeper. Villa would lose a dressing-room leader, a World Cup winner and one of the Premier League's biggest personalities. That's exactly why chasing a direct copy feels like the wrong move.
Restes brings a different profile. He plays with real composure, accepts possession inside his own penalty area and rarely looks rushed when opponents press aggressively. Emery asks his side to build attacks from the goalkeeper, and Restes already performs that role every week. His passing isn't flashy. It's clean, measured and consistently accurate, which matters far more.
Then comes his shot-stopping. He reacts sharply from close range, reads one-against-one situations with confidence and stays committed instead of retreating towards his goal line. Toulouse often defended high enough to expose him, yet he dealt with those moments impressively across another demanding Ligue 1 campaign.
Questions about Premier League experience are perfectly fair. English football places goalkeepers under constant pressure from crosses, second balls and physical forwards. Every young keeper needs time to adjust. Even so, Restes has already handled responsibilities that many goalkeepers don't receive until their mid-twenties. That shouldn't be dismissed.
A fee of £20 million feels sensible in the current market. Goalkeepers with similar potential usually command considerably higher prices once they establish themselves internationally. Villa would be investing in someone who could remain first choice for years rather than searching again after two or three seasons.
There are bigger names available across Europe, yet most would cost significantly more while offering little room for development. Restes already suits Emery's tactical demands, arrives with substantial senior experience and still has enormous room to improve.
Villa should move ahead if Martínez leaves for Juventus . Restes won't reproduce Martínez's leadership or charisma overnight, and expecting that would be unfair. His strengths lie elsewhere. Calm distribution, quick reflexes, confidence under pressure and nearly 100 Ligue 1 appearances before turning 22 make a persuasive case. Spending £20 million on a goalkeeper with that profile represents far stronger business than paying a premium for an older alternative whose best football may already sit behind him.
