Southampton and Arsenal have reached an agreement on a fee for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The Saints renewed their interest in the 26-year-old after their pursuit of Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow fell through due to a failed medical. Although Arsenal initially rejected Southampton’s loan offer, the South Coast club has now come back with a permanent deal worth £18 million, potentially rising to £25 million with add-ons.
Ramsdale, who was signed by Arsenal for £24 million from Sheffield United in 2021, is set to undergo a medical on Thursday. The goalkeeper has attracted attention from other clubs as well, with Wolves also keeping tabs on him. On the other hand, Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, already has a replacement lined up to serve as a backup to their first-choice goalkeeper, David Raya.
Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, who is 23 years old, is the player that Arsenal has identified as their potential replacement. Although Liverpool has also shown interest in the former Spain Under-21 star, Arsenal seems to have a clear path to sign him. Garcia was outstanding for Espanyol last season as they won promotion back to LaLiga. It is believed that he has a release clause of around £21.4 million, but Arsenal has reportedly agreed to a fee closer to £25 million.
In addition to Garcia, Arsenal may also consider pursuing a home-grown goalkeeper to provide further depth in their squad. This player would sit behind Raya and Garcia in the pecking order. The Gunners have recently loaned Estonia international Karl Hein to Rayo Vallecano, and academy product Arthur Okonkwo secured a permanent move to Wrexham over the summer. Although Wolves rejected an approach for English goalkeeper Dan Bentley, Arsenal is still exploring other options. One potential candidate is Wigan’s Sam Tickle, an England Under-21 star.
Overall, Southampton’s pursuit of Aaron Ramsdale has taken an interesting turn, with Arsenal now willing to negotiate a permanent deal. While Ramsdale’s departure seems imminent, the Gunners have already identified a replacement in Joan Garcia. This transfer saga highlights the constant movement and negotiations that occur during the transfer window, as clubs strive to strengthen their squads and find suitable replacements for departing players.