Aston Villa is preparing for the potential summer departure of Emiliano Martinez and is looking to Ligue 1 for his replacement. The club has identified 21-year-old French goalkeeper Robin Risser of RC Lens as a primary target, following his exceptional season during which he became a notable player in the league. While Risser has a strong reputation in the Premier League, the transfer is considered complex. RC Lens is not planning to sell the player and would require a very high offer to persuade the club's management.
Due to the difficulty in pursuing Risser, Aston Villa is also pursuing another target, Guillaume Restes of Toulouse. Risser, who has five caps for France U21, joined Lens in July 2025 and his contract runs until 2030. He has a current Transfermarkt market value of €25.00m, and has also been linked with other clubs including Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
