Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez features on Atletico Madrid's shortlist of potential Jan Oblak replacements, according to The Mirror.

The lowdown

As it stands, the Slovenia goalkeeper will be leaving the La Liga giants at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Martinez, by contrast, is under contract until June 2027, having signed an extension back in January.

Villa paid £20m to sign the Argentine from Arsenal ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The latest

As per The Mirror, Atletico are 'assessing alternative options' in the event that Oblak leaves, and 'Martinez is well placed among them'. There's even a chance that they'll look to sell the Slovenian in January to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Villa will resist attempts to prise their goalkeeper away, but Martinez may find the chance to play Champions League football at the Wanda Metropolitano too appealing to turn down.

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The verdict

Martinez has established himself as a top goalkeeper since he joined Villa. Last year, he was nominated for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best in that position in world football.

Other players on the shortlist included Ederson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Edouard Mendy, Thibaut Courtois, Manuel Neuer and indeed Oblak, esteemed company for the Argentine to hold.

On that basis, he arguably deserves to be earning more than £47,500 per week at Villa, a salary which ranks him only 13th in Steven Gerrard's squad.

Villa presenter Dan Rolinson says that the 'unreal' stopper is a 'winner', while team-mate Matty Cash has called him 'unbelievable' and compatriot Lionel Messi regards him as one of the best in his position.

With 'top clubs' targeting Martinez's team-mate Douglas Luiz, in the words of Fabrizio Romano, Villa could lose two prominent players in the near future unless they can persuade the duo to stay put.