Aston Villa have reportedly been advised to consider a move for Santiago Beltran, with former goalkeeper Emi Martinez said to have recommended the River Plate youngster to his former club.
The claim comes from Argentine outlet El Intransigente, which cited journalist Ramiro Solveyra as saying that Beltran could leave River in the coming months.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper has reportedly attracted interest from several European clubs, with Atlético Madrid and Inter also mentioned alongside Aston Villa.
Emi Martinez reportedly recommended Beltran
Santiago Beltran has trained alongside Martinez at international level, giving the former Villa goalkeeper an opportunity to assess the young goalkeeper first-hand.
According to Solveyra’s comments reported by El Intransigente, Martinez has recommended Beltran to Aston Villa.
The report also suggests that Beltran’s recent change of agents could be an indication that a move is being considered, although there is no confirmation that a transfer will take place in January.
Manchester City and Manchester United have also previously been linked with the River Plate goalkeeper.
Beltran reportedly has £17.8m release clause
One of the most interesting aspects of the potential deal is Santiago Beltran reported release clause.
El Intransigente previously claimed that the goalkeeper has a €21 million (£17.8 million) buyout clause in his River Plate contract.
River have reportedly been attempting to protect their asset by negotiating a new contract for Beltran.
The club were said to want to extend his deal until December 2029 and increase the release clause to €100 million (£84.7 million).
If those negotiations are unsuccessful, the existing clause could make Beltran an attractive option for clubs looking for a young goalkeeper.
Aston Villa have already been linked with a move
The latest report is not the first suggestion that Villa could be interested in Santiago Beltran.
Argentine outlet Soy Del Millo previously claimed that Aston Villa had made an offer for the next transfer window.
Those reports remain unconfirmed, meaning the extent of Villa’s interest is unclear.
What is clear is that the goalkeeper market at Villa Park could become an interesting area to watch over the coming months.
Why Villa could consider another goalkeeper
Aston Villa currently have Zion Suzuki as their first-choice goalkeeper following Martinez’s departure.
Marco Bizot provides additional competition, but his contract is reportedly due to expire next summer.
That could leave Villa considering their options if they decide to strengthen the position.
Beltran’s age, reported release clause and experience at River Plate could make him a player worth monitoring, particularly if Villa’s recruitment team believe he has the potential to develop into a long-term option.
For now, however, the goalkeeper remains a River Plate player and there is no confirmed agreement between the clubs.
The Aston Villa News BR verdict
Santiago Beltran is an intriguing name to add to the Aston Villa transfer watchlist, but the story should be treated with caution.
The strongest part of the latest report is the claim that Emi Martinez has recommended Beltran to Villa after working with him at international level. The rest of the transfer picture remains speculative, with reports of interest, a previous Villa offer and a release clause all coming from external sources.
Villa do have a potential reason to examine the goalkeeper market, particularly with Bizot’s reported contract situation.
If River cannot secure the significantly higher release clause they reportedly want, Beltran’s current £17.8m buyout figure could become an important factor in any future negotiations.
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