Journalist Luke Hatfield believes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's value has sky-rocketed since he joined the club.

The 29-year-old arrived at Villa Park for £20m last September, and has made a significant impact over the past year.

What has Martinez achieved over the last 18 months?

Prior to lockdown last year, fans across the country will have been forgiven for not knowing who Martinez was, as he was merely Bernd Leno's understudy at the time at Arsenal.

The German shot-stopper got injured in June 2020, though, and Martinez took full advantage of his opportunity to play. He featured in the Gunners' final nine league games of the 2019/20 season, while also helping Mikel Arteta's men win the FA Cup.

This earned him a move to Villa, and he managed to keep 15 clean sheets in his maiden Premier League campaign in the Midlands. His performances saw him called up to the Argentina squad for the Copa America, and he conceded just two goals in the entire tournament as La Albiceleste went on to beat Brazil in the final.

GIVEMESPORT Giveaway

ENTER GIVEAWAY

What has Hatfield said about Martinez?

Martinez has enjoyed a meteoric rise, and Hatfield feels he is now worth at least three times the fee that Villa paid for him last year, largely due to his performances on the international stage.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “In terms of a fee, Villa are in a very good position. He only joined the club less than two years ago, and the fee they paid, almost £20m for him. He’s worth triple that, maybe even quadruple now, just because of the performances he’s been putting in for Argentina.”

Will Arsenal make the TOP FOUR?! Hear what fans are saying on The Football Terrace...

How much is Martinez worth?

Given how well he has played over the last 12-18 months, it would not be a surprise to see some major clubs come knocking for Martinez in the not-too-distant future.

Transfermarkt currently value him at £31.5m, but it seems very likely that Villa will want significantly more than that before they allow him to leave.

The nine-cap international still has the best part of three years left on his contract at Villa Park, and having turned 29 last month, the best could be yet to come as goalkeepers often continue well into their thirties.

Martinez has proven that he can perform across the course of a season, and has also stepped up in big matches to win major trophies at club and international level, so Villa should demand a hefty fee from any interested parties.

If he keeps producing top-class displays, there is no reason why they couldn't get in excess of £50m for the 6 foot 5 goalkeeper. 

Read More - January Transfer Window 2022: When does it open, when does it close and which players are going to move?