Aston Villa seal Marco Bizot as Martinez talks swirl, with Lindelof and Sancho moves lined up

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Aston Villa have moved first. The club have completed a deal for Dutch goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Stade Brestois for an undisclosed fee, adding proven experience to a position that could see major change before the window shuts. The timing isn’t subtle: Emiliano Martinez is attracting heavy interest from Manchester United, and Villa want cover—whether he stays or goes.

Bizot, 33, arrives off the back of an excellent spell in Ligue 1, where he helped Brest punch above their weight with calm handling and sharp reflexes. He’s well-traveled and battle-tested—AZ Alkmaar before France, European nights, pressure games, the lot. Unai Emery values reliability between the posts, and Bizot brings that, plus leadership in a crowded penalty area. With Villa in the thick of a demanding season, they wanted someone who could start tomorrow without a learning curve.

Martinez remains the big headline. The World Cup winner is admired at Old Trafford, and multiple reports say the Argentina international has agreed personal terms with United. Villa haven’t given in. They don’t want to lose their No. 1 unless the offer is too strong to refuse, and they’ve made that stance clear in talks.

United’s end of the story is straightforward. New manager Ruben Amorim wants a goalkeeper he can trust every week. Andre Onana’s error in the shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town didn’t help his case, and Altay Bayindir’s slips against Arsenal and Burnley added to the nerves. Amorim wants stability; Martinez, in his eyes, offers that from day one.

There’s also the makeweight chatter. Intermediaries have floated player-plus-cash ideas, including Onana heading to Villa as part of any Martinez deal. Those conversations often happen late in a window, more as a pressure tactic than a plan. Villa are listening, but their preference is simple: they set a price for Martinez, and if it’s met, they move decisively. If not, they expect him to stay and lead another push on multiple fronts.

Bizot’s arrival changes the tone of that calculus. If Martinez departs, Villa won’t be scrambling for a starter. If he stays, Emery has a strong, experienced deputy who can rotate through the Europa nights and domestic cups, or step in during tight runs of fixtures. Modern squads live on depth, and Villa have been burned before when a single injury wiped out a good month’s work.

Bizot’s fit and what it means for Villa’s goalkeeping plan

On the pitch, Bizot is a classic shot-stopper who reads crosses well and organizes his defense. He isn’t a sweeper-keeper in the purest sense, but he’s comfortable enough playing short and going long when needed. Brest leaned on his positioning when they sat deep against the big sides, and he delivered. Emery’s Villa push higher, but they still want a keeper who dominates the box and doesn’t spill the simple stuff.

Another factor is leadership. Martinez is loud, demanding, and directs traffic. Bizot is more understated but respected in dressing rooms he’s been part of. With a back line that has mixed youth and experience, that presence matters. Villa’s coaches see him as a steadying voice for a group that has Europa ambitions and a domestic top-four fight to manage across a long season.

There’s a financial angle too. Profit and sustainability rules shape everything now. An undisclosed but reasonable fee for Bizot, plus the possibility of a large sale for Martinez if it comes to that, gives Villa room to maneuver elsewhere before the deadline. They’re spreading risk and keeping options open.

Defense and wing next: Lindelof and Sancho on the table

Beyond the gloves, Villa are lining up help in two other areas. A free transfer for Victor Lindelof is close, with the Sweden international leaving Manchester United after eight seasons. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, experienced, and has played under multiple systems. Emery likes defenders who can hold a high line yet stay calm on the first pass out. Lindelof fits as a right-sided center-back, can cover in a back three, and has done emergency shifts at right-back when asked.

Depth at center-back isn’t optional for a team with European football. Villa pushed their starters hard last season, and the drop-off when injuries hit was clear. Lindelof doesn’t arrive to replace anyone outright; he arrives to make sure Villa don’t have to rip up the game plan when a hamstring tightens on a Thursday night.

On the wing, Jadon Sancho is the live option. United want him off the books now rather than lose him for nothing next summer. He has a year left on his deal and needs a reset. A loan to Villa would be a fresh start in a system that values quick transitions and decisive final balls. Emery gives clear, detailed roles to wide players—when to hold width, when to attack the inside channel, where the first run goes. Sancho, at his best, thrives with structure and quick combinations.

There are moving parts here. Wages, loan fees, and whether an option or obligation to buy gets slipped into the paperwork. But Villa’s pitch is compelling: regular minutes, a defined role, and a team pushing for knockout football in Europe. For Sancho, it’s a chance to rebuild confidence in a stable setup, with less drama and more football.

United, for their part, would welcome clarity. If Martinez moves, they get their No. 1 and can sort their own outgoing pieces. If he doesn’t, they still want Sancho’s future settled and Lindelof’s free exit tidied up. Amorim is trying to reset the squad’s spine quickly; that’s why the goalkeeper saga has moved to the front of the queue.

Inside Villa Park, the mood is controlled. Bizot through the door calms the goalkeeping nerves. Lindelof’s free transfer would be smart business for a league campaign that punishes thin squads. And a Sancho loan, if the numbers land, would add a different profile on the flank—more playmaking, less straight-line speed, and a new puzzle for opponents who have grown used to Villa’s wide threats.

Timing now becomes the key. Medicals, final documents, and the usual late-window brinkmanship will decide how many of these threads actually tie up before the deadline. Emery has pushed the club to act early where possible, and the Bizot deal shows they’ve listened. Whether the window finishes with Martinez in claret and blue or in United red is the question hanging over the rest.

For supporters, it’s a balance of excitement and anxiety. Losing Martinez would sting; he’s been central to Villa’s rise. But having Bizot already in, chasing Lindelof on a free, and working a smart loan for Sancho is a sign of a club that plans for every branch on the decision tree. However the final days play out, Villa have given themselves options—and that’s usually how you win a window.