Arsenal have reportedly set a £50 million price tag for England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has been linked with a potential move away from the club.
Ramsdale lost his starting position to David Raya following the Spaniard’s loan move from Brentford last summer. Despite initial scepticism, Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring in Raya proved successful, with Raya securing the Premier League Golden Glove for the 2023/24 season. Raya’s impressive performance included three clean sheets in his first four games, compared to Ramsdale’s single clean sheet in the same number of appearances.
Raya is expected to complete a permanent transfer to Arsenal for £27 million this summer, prompting Ramsdale to consider his future. Newcastle United, Chelsea and AC Milan have shown interest in the English goalkeeper. Newcastle, in particular, have explored alternatives, including Burnley’s James Trafford, for whom they reportedly made a £16 million bid. Trafford is seen as a more affordable option compared to Ramsdale and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is valued at around £35 million.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Ramsdale has been complicated by Arsenal’s high asking price. According to The Sun, Arsenal demand a guaranteed £40 million plus an additional £10 million in add-ons for Ramsdale. Journalist Alan Nixon reports that Newcastle have turned to cheaper options like Trafford after discovering the high prices of other potential targets. However, Burnley is reportedly seeking £30 million for Trafford.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth believes Ramsdale’s status as an England international justifies Arsenal’s valuation. Sheth noted, “Ramsdale could command quite a bit of money. He started last season as the number one, but with Raya’s arrival, his chances dwindled. For his future and to secure regular first-team football, he might consider moving on.”
Ramsdale recently started in England’s 1-0 home loss to Iceland, where he faced criticism for his role in Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s winning goal, which slipped past him at the near post. However, former England captain Wayne Rooney defended Ramsdale, saying, “It’s difficult for him. It’s clever shooting through Stones’ legs. It’s very difficult to get your timing right. I wouldn’t blame Ramsdale for that goal.”
