According to The Athletic, Arsenal are looking to sign a new goalkeeper and have begun talks with Sheffield United for Aaron Ramsdale. The Gunners are ready to pay a considerable fee for the Blades shot-stopper as they see him as a future number one, not just a homegrown backup.
Arteta, it seems, isn’t convinced by Leno in between the sticks with his future up in the air and he knows that Mat Ryan is a short-term measure, even though the Australian acquitted himself well during his loan spell from Villa. There have been whispers regarding the club’s interest in Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana (25) for as little as £7m, but the answer to the goalkeeping conundrum for Arsenal seems to be closer to home in the form of Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal signed young goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson from French club Dijon last year, but the Iceland shot-stopper had a game to forget against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with two exceptional howlers that saw his first-team ambitions sink quicker than a brick thrown into the Thames.
Aaron Ramsdale is a developing keeper but one that has good reflexes and temperament within his six feet frame and even though the Blades were eventually relegated from the Premier League, it was no reflection on his abilities. Another plus is that he would set the Kroenkster’s back just under £11m for a Premier League-ready player and on paper at least, the fit looks good.
This transfer window is going to be the most complicated and vital in the history of the club with up to six players required for Arteta’s rebuild and rebranding project, but it remains to be seen if the money will be made available to facilitate the various moves.
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Truth be told, decent keepers are in short supply and English ones even more so. Does anyone really believe that today’s clutch of homegrown shot-stoppers is anywhere near the standards of Jennings, Clemence, Shilton, Southall, or Seaman.
No, unfortunately, the English relinquished their monopoly on the global goalkeeping department some years back but Ramsdale could, with the right training become England’s standout keeper. Arsenal haven’t put in a bid yet but they should at least be looking at credible alternatives to Onana and at the current valuation, Ramsdale is a steal.
Stay tuned for the latest Arsenal transfer news.