Arsenal have reportedly made an official bid to sign an England youth international goalkeeper amid continued uncertainty over the future of Aaron Ramsdale.
While the Gunners' summer transfer window is yet to truly explode into life, they have already sealed the permanent signing of David Raya from Brentford for a £27m fee.
Confirmation of Raya's deal came after Arsenal extended the contract of third-choice shot-stopper Karl Hein, who is expected to be sent out on loan next season rather than competing for minutes at the Emirates.
However, the situation surrounding current second choice Ramsdale remains entirely unclear, as the ex-Bournemouth man has already admitted that he never wants to experience another season like 2023-24 again.
With Raya signing a four-year deal and sure to remain Arteta's number one for 2024-25 and beyond, the signs are seemingly pointing towards Ramsdale leaving the club, even though he only signed a new deal last year.
© Reuters
Arsenal 'eyeing Ajax's Tommy Setford'
Ramsdale's next move is unlikely to be decided until after England's Euro 2024 campaign concludes, as the Three Lions prepare to battle Spain in Sunday's final, where the Arsenal man is expected to be on the bench again.
The Gunners are already said to have seen a £50k offer for Wolverhampton Wanderers' Daniel Bentley rejected, while they have also been tipped to move for Feyenoord's £10m-rated Justin Bijlow.
Now, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Ajax starlet Tommy Setford has also caught the eye of Gunners chiefs, who have sent over an official proposal to the Dutch giants.
Eighteen-year-old Setford has now entered the last year of his deal in Amsterdam, and negotiations are now ongoing between the two clubs as Arsenal seek to bring him to the Emirates.
While Ajax are determined to keep hold of the teenager and view him as a talented prospect for the future, Setford is supposedly keen to join Arsenal, and Ajax are at risk of losing him for nothing in 2025.
Who is Arsenal-linked Tommy Setford?
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal submit first proposal to Ajax for 18 year old goalkeeper Tommy Setford.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2024
Negotiations ongoing, Ajax sources see Setford as big talent but current deal expires in June 2025.
England U20 GK keen on the move. pic.twitter.com/7EmNeSxI3C
Born in Haarlem to an English father, Setford joined Ajax as an Under-8s player and has risen through the youth ranks ever since, now starring for the Amsterdam giants' Under-18 side.
The 6ft 1in goalkeeper - who was born in March 2006, a matter of months before Arsenal officially moved to the Emirates - kept six clean sheets in 15 games last season and made the bench for the Under-21s in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.
Setford has already earned continental experience with Ajax, playing three matches in the 2022-23 UEFA Youth League - including a 4-0 loss to Liverpool - as the Dutch side reached the last 16.
At international level, Setford was England's starting goalkeeper at the Under-17 Euros and World Cup last year and has since been capped for the Under-18s and Under-19s, while being called up to the Under-20s for the first time in June.
Setford's brother Charlie Setford - who is two years older - also plays as a goalkeeper for Ajax's Under-21s and has been on the bench for the seniors in the Eredivisie, Champions League and Europa League.
Ben Knapton
