Arsenal set to ‘complete move worth up to £30m for Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale’ with goalkeeper ‘close to agreeing terms on a four-year-deal to provide competition for Bernd Leno’
- Arsenal are nearing the completion of a £30million transfer for Aaron Ramsdale
- The Sheffield United keeper is reportedly close to penning a four-year-deal
- Ramsdale was left out of the club’s clash against West Brom on Wednesday night
- Mikel Arteta will hope the 23-year-old will provide competition to Bernd Leno
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on sealing the transfer of Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United in a move which could eventually rise to £30million.
The goalkeeper has been a target for boss Mikel Arteta throughout the summer, and the Blades keeper appears to now be nearing a move to north London having impressed in the Premier League with United despite relegation last term.
According to the Athletic, Ramsdale, part of England’s Euro 2020 squad this summer, will pen a four-year-deal with an option for a fifth year subject to agreeing personal terms and a medical.
Arsenal are closing in on signing Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale for up to £30million
The report adds that although the transfer fee is expected to be around £24million, £6m could be paid in add-ons depending on if he eventually forces current No 1 keeper Bernd Leno out of the first team.
Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic didn’t select Ramsdale for his side’s Championship clash with West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night, saying he was ‘simply not in the right state of mind’ to play.
‘We felt he was not ready for the game,’ Blades boss Jokanovic told Sky Sports. ‘We took the decision not to use him for the game.
‘He’s simply not in the right state of the mind. We prefer not to complicate things and start with Mike (Verrips).’
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has been looking to bring in an additional goalkeeper all summer
Arsenal have opted for a British-based goalkeeper to join the club after initially looking at Ajax’s Andre Onana, with Ramsdale and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone both heavily linked.
The Gunners have already seen two bids for the Englishman rejected, and will hope that this is a case of third time lucky as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad before the window shuts.
Arsenal started the season poorly on Friday night in the Premier League’s opening game after they were beaten 2-0 at new boys Brentford.
The move heightens competition for the No 1 jersey currently held by Bernd Leno
The Gunners faced heavy criticism for their defending during the encounter, in particular the second goal where Leno and his defenders allowed the ball to bounce in the six-yard box from a throw-in before conceding.
Jamie Carragher labelled Arsenal’s performance ‘weak’, opining that the top-flight newcomers ‘bullied’ their more established rivals at the Brentford Community Stadium.
‘How do you describe Arsenal’s defending here? It’s just Arsenal. Weak, bullied, men against boys again. New season same old story,’ he said on commentary duty for Sky Sports.
‘Spurs have it that people say it’s ‘Spursy’. I think it’s about time Arsenal have something like that as well. Because this is just an Arsenal performance. Everyone knows what that means; an Arsenal performance.’
