Arsenal have reportedly agreed to a £25m deal to sell their backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Premier League rivals Southampton ahead of the summer transfer deadline.
The 26-year-old shot-stopper was included in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2022-23 season when the Gunners mounted their first serious Premier League title challenge in 15 years.
At that point, there was widespread speculation that he could potentially replace Jordan Pickford as England's first-choice goalkeeper leading up to the European Championship.
However, things quickly took a downward turn for Ramsdale when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided that David Raya was a better tactical fit and handed the Spaniard a starting role for the side after arriving on loan from Brentford.
Ramsdale spent three years at Bournemouth after joining them from Sheffield United and it seems that the England international is now set for a return to the South Coast.
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Southampton gain agreement on Ramsdale signing
Sky Sports claim that Ramsdale is set to move to Southampton before Friday's transfer deadline, with the Saints having agreed a deal with the Gunners worth £25m for his services.
The report adds that the agreement includes an £18m fixed fee, which could potentially rise by a further £7m if performance-related add-ons are met.
It is understood that the clubs are now in the final stages of discussions and the 26-year-old is expected to complete his medical with the St Mary's club on Thursday to ensure the transfer can be completed before the deadline.
Ramsdale has been pushing for a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer in the hope of securing regular playing time after making just 11 appearances across all competitions last season.
The deal with the Saints marks a slight concession from the Gunners, who had initially aimed to send Ramsdale out on loan with an obligation to buy for around £30m this summer.
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Arsenal identify Espanyol goalkeeper as Ramsdale replacement
With Ramsdale seemingly on the verge of departing the Emirates, Arsenal are believed to have already identified his replacement in the form of Espanyol shot-stopper Joan Garcia.
The Standard revealed that the Gunners have been tracking the Spaniard's progress for several months and are considering activating his release clause which is believed to be in the region of £25m.
It is claimed that Arsenal have already made contact with the 23-year-old and have agreed on personal terms to bring him to North London as Raya's backup for the 2024-25 season.
Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez was recently quizzed in an interview with the media about Garcia's future to which he replied: "I don't know about the transfer market, although I hope he doesn't leave.
"What the club tells me is that he should not leave unless a club comes and nothing can be done."
Devesh Jaganath
