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Chelsea have begun discussions with the representatives of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as the Blues try to fix their continuing problems in goal. The West London side are becoming increasingly concerned about the recent form of current first-choice keeper Robert Sanchez after an unsteady start to the Premier League season.

Chelsea have reached out to Martinez's camp as the club looks to deal with rising doubts over their present goalkeeping options. The 2022 World Cup winner has firmly placed himself among the top goalkeepers in the game during his time at Aston Villa, where he has made 256 appearances since joining from Arsenal in 2020. However, the 33-year-old is now viewed as available for a move, with Villa prepared to listen to offers after their £30m signing of Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month.

Chelsea's interest in Martinez comes at a point when Sanchez is under heavy scrutiny after a difficult opening to the campaign. In the first Premier League match against Fulham, which Chelsea edged 3-2, the Spaniard was beaten at his near post by a Josh King effort and later fumbled a routine shot that allowed Gonzalo Garcia to score. Juventus had also tried to sign Martinez earlier in the transfer window, but that deal fell through because of concerns over a finger injury, leaving Chelsea with the chance to move.

A move for Martinez would be the latest development in a run of regular business between Chelsea and Aston Villa, with the two clubs building a notably close working relationship in the current transfer window. Their recent dealings were led by the blockbuster £117 million transfer that took Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a club-record fee, along with a separate arrangement that saw Alejandro Garnacho head the other way on an initial loan deal.

The talks may also include other major names as both clubs try to reshape their squads and meet financial regulations. Reports indicate that striker Nicolas Jackson, currently valued at around £65 million, could feature in the discussions and might join Villa to link up again with his former manager Unai Emery.

Despite the speculation over a possible move for Martinez, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has tried to stay calm when asked about Sanchez's recent displays. Speaking before tomorrow's Carabao Cup meeting with Luton Town at Stamford Bridge, Alonso said his conversations with the Spanish goalkeeper had remained professional and centred on collective progress. 'No, we have had normal conversations. We have talked more about the team thing, about what we did well and what we have to do better,' Alonso told reporters.

Alonso's public support for Sanchez has not ended the internal discussion over whether a change is needed to preserve Chelsea's momentum. The manager added: 'It was more about understanding the context. Every game is going to be important because we are in this process that we still need to develop things. We need to make adjustments that are more team-related.' Although Alonso is known for standing by his players, the repeated nature of individual mistakes in high-pressure matches has pushed the club towards action.

The short-term picture in Chelsea's goalkeeping department could change even before any new arrival, with Mike Penders pressing for a starting place. Penders returned to the club in the summer after a very productive loan spell at Strasbourg and has impressed the coaching staff with his work on the training ground.

That strong showing has clearly put him in the frame for the upcoming matches. When asked about the young goalkeeper's possible involvement, Alonso kept his options open. 'He's in the squad, so he has an opportunity,' the Chelsea boss said. 'We will decide and give the team to the players tomorrow, so I prefer to expect that they know first.'