Brighton have entered the race to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Goal has learned the Seagulls have tabled a bid higher than the reported £15 million ($19m) fee offered by Aston Villa earlier this week. Villa had previously had an opening offer rejected.
As competition mounts for his signature, the 28-year-old won’t be part of Mikel Arteta’s squad for the Premier League curtain-raiser at Fulham on Saturday.
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Martinez starred for Arsenal after Bernd Leno suffered a knee injury following last season's restart in the summer, but the German is set to reclaim his first-team place in 2020-21.