Aaron Ramsdale has been training well, Arsenal will only allow permanent transfer
Arsenal will only consider a permanent transfer for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale amid speculation that he would be interested in joining Newcastle United in January, David Ornstein claims.
The England international has fallen down the pecking order under manager Mikel Arteta this term and he has been the second-choice behind David Raya since September.
Raya has been guilty of some high-profile mistakes including a couple at Luton Town in midweek, but manager Mikel Arteta is likely to continue to back his summer signing.
It was recently reported that Ramsdale would be open to joining Eddie Howe’s side next month with Nick Pope sidelined for months with a shoulder injury but a move seems unlikely.
In an Q&A session on The Athletic, Ornstein said that the Gunners would only allow a permanent transfer and that would also need to be at a level that provides them with proper finances to play with.
He added that Ramsdale has been training well despite the lack of playing time and the north London giants would ideally want to address his situation at the end of the season.
He said: “I don’t think Arsenal would allow a loan only a permanent transfer, and that would need to be at a level of fee that gives the proper finances to play with, and I’m not aware of any movement on that front yet.”
“Of course, Ramsdale wants and needs to be playing but I hear, unsurprisingly, that he has been training well and being a model pro. Ideally for Arsenal, this would be addressed next summer.”
Ramsdale likely to stay at Arsenal until next summer
The Gunners currently value their shot-stopper at £50 million and it is unlikely that any European club will make such a huge outlay on a goalkeeper midway through the campaign.
The Magpies need to find quality cover for Pope to keep their top-four hopes alive, but they also have Financial Fair Play concerns to deal with and may not meet the demands.
A loan deal is an option at their disposal but the Gunners are unlikely to accept, considering the Magpies are now direct rivals to them for one of the Champions League positions.
Hence, a decision over Ramsdale’s future could be delayed until the summer. The Englishman could yet have the opportunity to displace Raya between the sticks at the club.
Raya needs to redeem himself over the coming games. If the Spaniard continues to stay error-prone, Arteta may have to contemplate replacing him with Ramsdale in goal.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
