Aston Villa are said to be desperately pushing to land Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a looming deadline.
Martinez impressed in the back-end of last season after coming in to replace the injured Bernd Leno, but it seems he faces another season as number two in the coming campaign.
Despite that, the Gunners are hoping to keep the Argentine, willing to offer him a new contract worth £25,000-per-week.
But money doesn't look like being the answer with Martinez, who has made just 15 league appearances since arriving at the club in 2012.
Now 28 years of age, Martinez wants first-team football and it seems Aston Villa want to offer him that, offering £15m for his services.
But Arsenal are understood to be demanding £20m on the back of his performances last season.
So who is going to budge first? That's where the game of cat and mouse comes in with the Daily Mail reporting Villa are desperate to sign the goalkeeper before their opening game of the season, against Sheffield United on Monday.
Aware of Villa's need between the sticks, Arsenal are likely to expect the Midlands club to up their offer, but Villa are in the process of completing a club-record deal for Brentford star Ollie Watkins, so their bank balance is already set to take a hefty hit.
Either way, this move could really gather pace in the next few days as Villa attempt to ease Arsenal's stance, which could well be softened by the fact Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is reportedly keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.
