Arsenal are reportedly looking at Sheffield United’s shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale, according to The Sun. Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu Gaspar already have a huge task of squad rebuilding this season. Their workload might escalate if Bernd Leno departs the Emirates Stadium in this transfer window.
Arsenal lost their long-serving goalkeeper in the form of Emiliano Martinez last summer. The 28-year-old was exceptional after Leno suffered an injury in Matchweek 30 of the 2019/20 campaign. The Argentine helped the club in landing two trophies in Arteta’s first nine months in charge, but departed after he was not given assurances about his playing time.
BREAKING: Arsenal are interested in Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 16, 2021
Arsenal’s Priority Is To Recruit A Homegrown Goalkeeper
The task of replacing Martinez is even bigger when you consider that he was homegrown. England has a rule that states every team participating in the Premier League must have a minimum of eight players in the squad who are homegrown. That means either those who were brought up in England, or who joined the English clubs’ academy setup before turning 16.
The Gunners’ lookout for a backup goalkeeper who is homegrown has been well documented in the past few months. They have repeatedly tracked Brentford’s David Raya and Newcastle’s Freddie Woodman, who both were exceptional in the Championship last season.
But now reports have emerged that Arsenal have set their eyes on Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale, another homegrown player, who is valued at around £20 million.
Our No.1. 🦁🏴
Aaron Ramsdale has been called up to the England #EURO2020 squad. 👏 pic.twitter.com/svApJomcrg
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) June 15, 2021
The former Bournemouth man was exceptional for the Blades in the second half of the last campaign. An excellent year was capped off with inclusion in England’s 33-man provisional squad for the ongoing European Championships. Things turned even sweeter for the young shot-stopper when he replaced Dean Henderson in the Euro 2020 squad, who withdrew from the squad due to a hip injury.
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Personal Viewpoint: Ramsdale’s price tag was bound to soar after his call up to the England set-up for the Euro 2020. If the South Yorkshire club ask for more than the £20m that is currently being quoted, Arsenal might be better served elsewhere.
There are a lot of young goalkeepers with great potential who would come cheaper than the Englishman. It is still to be seen whether Arsenal do end up making an official bid for Aaron Ramsdale, especially when they have been seriously interested in Ajax’s Andre Onana.
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