According to Fabrizio Romano, Southampton look set to sign Aaron Ramsdale after talks with Wolves and Bournemouth failed to progress.
It remains to be seen what type of deal is agreed, loan or permanent, but we’d imagine the former is more likely given Arsenal having been asking for £30 million for the England international.
The Saints were close to recruiting Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow but the Dutchman, who was linked with the Gunners earlier in the window, failed his medical.
Ramsdale lost his place to David Raya last season and was restricted to just five appearances after the first international break.
🚨🔴⚪️ Understand Southampton and Arsenal are advancing well in talks for Aaron Ramsdale deal!
Negotiations underway, it could get done soon. All parties optimistic.
↪️👀 Reminder: Arsenal have agreed on terms with Joan García from Espanyol if Ramsdale leaves. pic.twitter.com/YSGUegssoq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2024
While the 26-year-old didn’t agitate for a January departure, he privately made it clear that he wouldn’t spend a second season warming the bench. In that regard, even taking into account his involvement with England’s Euro 2024 campaign, it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for him to secure a move.
Having already allowed Karl Hein to depart on loan, Arsenal are trying to secure the services of two goalkeepers in the next 48 hours. Wolves’ Dan Bentley and Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle are candidates to be third-choice while Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has been lined up to compete with Raya.
A goalkeeper of Ramsdale’s quality could well keep them in the league by saving a bunch of points. Also, I have a soft spot for Southampton so would like this to happen. Loan with obligation to buy would be nice, although outright sale 25-30 million would be better.
Problem being he’s already been relegated from the Premiership twice with Bournemouth and Sheff Utd!
He’d never agree to go there if an obligation to buy clause is inserted because saints are likely to be relegated this season. Same situation as nketiah rejecting forest.
I don’t see them staying up to be honest. Probably the least talented squad in the league and the coaching isn’t elite. He’s gonna be busy, but that suits him, and they’ll be back up again soon.
Sometimes I think we all forget that you spend money on players in order for them to play football for your club. We’re always obsessed with sell-on value, how much they should be worth and whether our investment has appreciated or tanked. But first and foremost, they are bought to play football and hopefully make the club better. Ramsdale’s goalkeeping got us to the champions league. He changed the way we were able to play football. He created supreme vibes, reconnected us to our club and was a true ambassador for this new era of Arsenal. I think Arteta should… Read more »
I mean I would’ve been happy with Ramsdale for the next 10 years. The club seems to fancy a new keeper every 18 months. It’s all good as long as we’re competing for trophies. But I don’t think it’s the fans who are a bit value-obssessed in this instance.
I think Arteta would’ve been happy with Ramsdale too, hence the new contract. But then Raya became available… I wouldn’t have believed 18 months ago that I would be looking at Martinelli and thinking “can we upgrade?” but I must admit I am a little now. Football is so present. It doesn’t care what you did 10 games ago. If you fucked up in the last game, you might not play in the next one. And if the guy who replaces you does great, you might not play for a long time. Rambo fucked up at an important time for… Read more »
…but weirdly, when Raya fucks up, he doesn’t sit on the bench next game. Double standards.
I would say 11 are Mbappe, Haaland, De Bruyne, Sala, Saliba, Messi, Rodri, Nico Williams, Saka, Vinicius Junior, Musiala.
That sequence of events is completely fine – credit to them for going after a player they value, and he’s repaid the faith. But if we hear any more about PSR or ‘financial sustainability’ making a move for a forward difficult, hmm….
Where have you heard any of that? All I’ve heard is that there are no PSR concerns. Perhaps we cannot go out and spend 100mil on a player, but in general the justification given for lack of movement on that front is both lack of available players we want (keep in mind we did move quick for Sesko) and a need to not bloat the squad in terms of sheer numbers. We don’t want to be Chelsea North
Here’s two examples from people/outlets I take seriously:
https://www.threads.net/@gunnerblog/post/C-qFZtRglTh?hl=en
https://www.threads.net/@stefan_bienkowski
The squad is nowhere near Chelsea’s bloat. The idea that there isn’t a player in Europe who the manager can play when Saka needs rest is not serious.
I would have, too. Then I saw what Raya brought to the team. No one bothers to seriously press him, there’s no point. He claims crosses so well. And, it appears his shot-stopping has gone up another level. Love Rambo the guy, and he’s a very good keeper—better than many playing in the league right now. But he’s just not as good as Raya.
You believe a football club should buy and develop players so they can play for the team and win games, maybe even trophies? You clearly have no future at Clearlake Capital.
I’m sorry. You misunderstood.
What I meant to say was that players should play an elaborate game of musical chairs where 5 or 6 fantastically expensive and unproven players are rotated in each position but lose their place when their own fans start calling them a cunt.
And yes, I would like access to the executive suite please.
Ergo…Arteta is a master at the game as well as the management game. Every player understands 1) We, you must always get better. 2) You play here and we will always seek to improve at the positions you play…your job is always at risk. 3) If you choose not to continue in that fight here, while protecting our culture and club…we will work together to help you succeed somewhere else. 4) Players being developed within the club…all of the above applies to you. We will do all we can to help you grow and succeed. We will always be one… Read more »
This is the way.
Ok so let’s see some silverware this season then. Been long enough for this philosophy to be in place that we should be expecting returns this season. 2nd in the league again, no cup wins and out in the quarters/semis of the CL ain’t gonna cut it. Not with what we’ve already spent and who we’ve already sold etc.
But why the the dual number one keeper thing? Just like your manager brings in a new team lead and say you remain a lead but for the printing room.
Raya was on ;loan and we needed him to play the whole season to determine whether we were in for him. If Raya had flopped, we still had Rambo. Smart move for the club, not so great for Ramsdale for that transition year. Ramsdale has done well for Arsenal and for himself, he got the opportunity to play at a top club and showed he’s capable at that level. This will provide him greater opportunities over his career than his previous clubs who were all battling regulation. He deserves to play in the Prem.
The real story is that we wanted Raya all along, happened to extend Rambo but when Raya became available we agreed to a loan + obligation because although we didn’t have the money to spend right then and there, we really wanted him. Somehow Arteta gave many of us the impression that there would be a GK competition but I don’t think that was ever really the plan. Raya was bought to be the #1.
I agree with you but the reality is the game has been heavily monetised with the entry of teams that continue to cheat the rules. It has put us in a very difficult position where we also need good money to remain competitive, not the fault of the team or fans, that there is a desire to maximise the receipts from transfers.
Is this a record for having three consecutive goalie posts in blogs?
Quite possibly!
One on the former keeper, one on the present keeper and one on the future keeper.
We miss u 2 Santi
We could make it four with an article on how well Karl Hein played last weekend 😀
Such a towering presence from the day he joined us. He deserves to be someone’s regular keeper and not be wasted for another season. He’ll have a significant impact wherever he goes and whoever signs him should be very excited about it.
100
He was okay, we’ve had better and we’ve had worse
Love a goalkeeper with a touch of madness. Really loved Rambo’s chutzpah and I’m gutted it’s not worked out for him at arsenal.
Hope he smashes it at Southampton and has a worldie when he plays the Sp*rz!
If the only option is a loan, it’s a bit of a gamble for him, especially given Southampton are inevitably going to struggle all season. He’ll be busy, which may work in our favour, because he is an excellent shot stopper and may increase his standing. Alternatively if they get relegated he will have the unwanted tag of being relegated from the Premier league with 3 teams in about 6 years.
Are we wise to be selling a keeper with a point to prove to our bogey team!
Excellent goalkeeper, English, homegrown, superb reflexes and great character.
But he struggles with concentration and is prone to the odd howler. Which is really costly.
I can see what Arteta saw in him (when virtually no one else could) and I can see why he lost patience with him (when virtually everyone wanted him to stay as number 1).
Wish him well, but we have upgraded and moved on; football is an unforgiving business, and it cannot be governed by emotions and sentiment.
Ramsdale the better showstopper; Raya slightly better distributor with his feet. That’s not an upgrade; it’s a wash.
Raya looks better because our defence is significantly better now.
Three ways Raya is superior:
All this time spent trying to sell/sign back up keepers… Saka needs proper cover. Time is ticking.
Do you think football clubs work on one deal until it is complete before looking at the next deal?
With the way Arsenal operate? Yes.
Completely gut the forward options we did have last season and chosen to do nothing whatsoever to bring anyone in. Fabulous squad planning. What is it, 4 forwards purchased in 5 years? It’s almost like Arteta doesn’t like buying forwards
Obviously that’s not how it works. Equally, there’s only so much work a team of people can do. Are you going to be happy if we haven’t signed any forward cover this window?
Reckon we’re gonna see a last minute deal for Sterling or Coman, maybe on loan. And tbh, they wouldn’t be the worst stop gap options and would allow us to have a better go at other targets next summer (maybe even in the winter).
I hope you’re right!
I think we are going to trigger Nico Williams’ release clause at the 11th hour. If he comes great, if he says no we can through til January.
Nail on the head mate. I could give two fucks about this never-ending goalkeeping saga. It’s a ridiculous situation to be in…stupid giving Ramsdale a contract extension then suddenly benching him when “surprise surprise” raya is available. Edu and Arteta fkd up here and now we’re fking around trying to sell and buy at this position when the forward line should be the priority. Oh but wait…same thing with Eddie…another error that could have been avoided.
Your constant negativity on every single post is a bore now. Switch it up once in a while with something positive.
Anyone still remember that free kick save against Leicester away? We won that game by an Odegard free kick.
Of course, epic save! Raya’s building a ice catalog this season too.
his cheeky smile after a good save, a proper grin after mocking the rival fans; just a regular fella trying to make his old man proud, taking us from 8th to title contenders. it’s all good with raya, he’s absolutely fine, but aaron felt like one of us in a way i don’t know raya will ever make us feel. aaron is my brother; david to me is a stranger. and therefore i feel more excitement when aaron’s on goal than when raya is, even if it negatively affects our performance (which im not that sure). it begs the question,… Read more »
I understand you.
Good to know. The move would do him a world of God. Ramsdales needs to be playing.
World of good***
Ramsdale***
He is an amazing lad. But his status was well known and yet no team near top 6 asked a out him. Weird or something we cannot see at his ability? Anyhow top lad!
His current salary and the fact he’s second choice have put the clampers on any “big” team from being interested. He doesn’t need to take a pay cut to play elsewhere and why should he…
Not a bad move, added bonus is that loaning a keeper to a premiership team means they have to play their sub keeper Vs us.
He’s gone perm. 25mill incl add ons
It’s a done deal! 25 million british pounds. It’s better than my wildest dreams to be honest!!
18 + addons up to 25. That’s shit. Where’s the England tax? Obviously they weren’t entertaining loans at all, and just wanted him off the books. And now they’re looking at paying the same for a REAL 2nd fiddle in Garcia? Bloody stupid in my opinion. Get someone like Mark Travers on the cheap, save some coin, put it towards other positions of need.
18 million will look worse than shit if we pay 30 million for Garcia. Second 30 million keeper bought this season, and the 3rd in 2 years. Makes absolutely no sense.
I’m slightly gutted (if that’s possible?) that lately, when a player leaves us, this forum turns into a political discussion that’s been had a million times. Players we’ve loved and supported, who’ve been there for us, have gone on to ply their trade at other clubs. The least we could do is to send them off with decency and respect. And focus, for a few minutes. I absolutely love Rammers. His character, his drive, his winding up of c*nts behind his goal. I hope he goes on to great things. He may. He may not. But he deserves to be… Read more »