SETTABLOID

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.”

Arsenal star William Saliba has confidently labelled himself as one of the top three defenders in the Premier League, with the Frenchman feeling he now boasting a “similar aura” to a Liverpool stalwart, while also laying down the Premier League title gauntlet to Manchester City.

The Gunners enjoy a season of real progress once again under Mikel Arteta, finishing second once again behind four-time champions City, but this time taking the title fight all the way down to the last day of the season. Arsenal also won through to the Champions League quarter-finals before they were squeezed out by Bayern Munich by just a single goal in the last eight.

However, plans are already underway at how Arsenal can make further improvements next season with another busy summer planned in the transfer market. To that end, TEAMtalk understands that the Gunners hope to make at least three signings to bring in a left-sided defender who can cover at centre-half and left-back, a midfield partner for Declan Rice and a new No 9 to tuck away the plethora of chances their side creates.

Arteta could also look to sign a new deputy goalkeeper if the frustrated Aaron Ramsdale gets his wish and secures a move away as expected, while a permanent move for David Raya, worth £27m, will also soon be announced when the transfer window officially opens for business.

However, one man who believes Arsenal have what it takes to go one better is Saliba, who believes Manchester City know they will be feeling the heat from the Gunners once again next season.

His defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes was the cornerstone for which Arsenal’s title push was built with the two players instrumental in helping Arsenal keep an impressive 18 clean sheets last season. That effort certainly deserves plenty of plaudits with the next best defensive shut-out tally (13 – by Everton and Man City) some way short of the Gunners’ total.

The France international cost £27m from St Etienne in summer 2019, but was forced to bide his time before making his name in north London. Indeed, he honed his craft with loan spells with both his previous club and then Marseille before being given his chance by Arteta.

He’s now regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League and looks set to play a leading role for France at the forthcoming European Championships.

But despite claiming he is now among the top three in the Premier League, Saliba insists he still himself as ‘humble’.

“I think I am in the top three [defenders in the league],” he told L’Equipe. “We finished with the best defence. I watch a lot of matches. I am a very humble person but last season, just like this season, I am in the top three defenders.

Arsenal star thinks he ranks alongside Van Dijk; issues Man City title warning

Comparing his game to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, Saliba added: “I’m making progress in that regard. In defence at Arsenal, I’m one of the leaders. (Virgil) Van Dijk has an aura, for example.

“He’s the boss, he commands everything. You can feel that he scares the attackers. But I’m starting to feel the same way.

“I’m starting to see that the attackers are feeling fear. Sometimes, when the players are in your zone, they don’t have fun.

“And when there’s a one-on-one and the player is going to retreat, bring the ball out, run away from the duel, it’s nice (smile).”

Saliba also believes Man City will feel the title heat from Arsenal again next season, adding: “We played against them three times [last season] and we made them struggle.

“They feel and we feel that we are close to them. Next year, we will have an even better war.”

Arsenal has announced a significant reshuffle of its squad, releasing 19 players whose contracts expire at the end of June. It signals manager Mikel Arteta’s intent to revamp the team following another season of finishing second to Manchester City.

Despite winning 26 games last year and 28 games this season, Arsenal fell short of the title. Some might argue that winning this many games should be sufficient with some luck, but Arteta believes substantial improvements are necessary to dethrone City.

Online sportsbooks have released the odds for next season, placing Arsenal among the favorites to win. Betting fans are already planning for the upcoming season, with many incorporating bonus codes for paripesa to gain additional bonuses.

Mohamed Elneny, one of the longest-serving players, is among the notable departures. The Egyptian midfielder joined Arsenal from Basel in January 2016 and made 161 appearances for the club. Despite his long tenure, Elneny found playing time hard to come by this season, featuring in only six matches.

The 31-year-old expressed his gratitude to the fans in a heartfelt message, thanking them for their support throughout his time at the club.

Elneny suffered a significant knee injury earlier in the season, underwent surgery, and missed the latter part of the campaign.

Portuguese full-back Cedric Soares, who joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2020, will also leave the club. Soares played 64 times for the Gunners but struggled for consistent game time, appearing only six times this season. His departure is part of Arteta’s broader strategy to streamline the squad and create room for new signings.

The club is discussing potential contract extensions with young talents like Amario Cozier-Duberry, Karl Hein, and Reuell Walters. Walters, a promising 19-year-old centre-back, is reportedly keen on securing regular first-team football, which might lead to his exit if Arsenal cannot provide those assurances.

Arthur Okonkwo, the 22-year-old goalkeeper who impressed on loan at Wrexham, is another significant name not offered a new contract. Okonkwo has been with Arsenal since age eight and has expressed mixed feelings about leaving the club after 15 years. He remains ambitious and hopes to continue his career at the international level.

The mass release underscores Arsenal’s commitment to a strategic overhaul under Arteta and sporting director Edu. By letting go of players who have struggled for game time, the club aims to bring in fresh talent that can challenge the Premier League title. This summer is expected to see several new faces at the Emirates, as Arsenal looks to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.

The released players include a mix of senior and youth team members, indicating a comprehensive squad review. Players like Mauro Bandeira, Omari Benjamin, and Kido Taylor-Hart will also depart, showcasing Arsenal’s intent to rejuvenate their roster from top to bottom.

With this significant turnover, Arsenal is set for a busy transfer window. The focus will likely be on strengthening areas that have shown vulnerability this season. The Gunners will aim to balance the squad with experienced signings and promote youth prospects who can provide long-term benefits.

Arteta’s strategy seems clear: build a squad with depth, versatility, and the ability to compete consistently at the top level. The departures of stalwarts like Elneny and Soares open opportunities for new players to make their mark and help Arsenal achieve their goals in the coming seasons.

An Arsenal striker could be on his way to Belgium during the summer transfer window after impressing out on loan in Austria this past season.

Gunners frontman Mika Biereth is the player in question, with Club Brugge in the market for an attacker as they look for a replacement for Igor Thiago.

That’s according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who reports that Biereth is one of the names being considered as a straight replacement for Thiago, who is leaving to join Brentford.

Biereth hit 14 goals and notched nine assists with Sturm Graz last season while also impressing in the Europa Conference League with three strikes in four outings.

The report states that Graz are keen on landing the 21-year-old Dane on a permanent basis, although no agreement has yet been struck for the player who will return to north London for now.

At this stage, it’s unclear what Arsenal‘s long-term plans are for Biereth and whether they would prefere to loan him out again to gain more experience.

Biereth unlikely to be handed Arsenal chance

The forward is certainly not expected to be pushing for a first-team squad spot, especially with Mikel Arteta known to be in the market for a new No.9 this summer.

Brugge are, however, expected to keep watching the player’s situation with a view to making a significant move for the player if they get the green light to do so.

The Belgian club’s need for a new forward is paramount given they are losing Thiago after the Brazilian agreed to move to the Bees.

The 22-year-old striker scored 29 goals in 55 games in all competitions last summer to fully earn his switch to the Premier League for a club-record £30million fee.

Financial concerns are prompting Aston Villa to consider bids for long-term Arsenal target Douglas Luiz and a deal is there to be made for a fraction of Villa’s £100m valuation of the player, according to reports.

Widespread reports have named Aston Villa as being among six Premier League clubs who are running close to the edge with the Premier League’s PSR rules.

Aside from Villa it’s understood Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester must all generate significant funds from player sales before June 30. Failure to do so would leave the clubs open to sanctions.

Unai Emery’s side will compete in the Champions League for the first time since 1983 next season. Villa have already set about adding to their squad, with a deal for Luton Town’s Ross Barkley agreed and talks ongoing over the signing of Conor Gallagher (Chelsea).

But to free up both room and funds for those acquisitions – and to balance the books in the first place – sales are on the horizon.

Among Villa’s most valuable assets is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who enjoyed yet another superb campaign last season.

Arsenal – at the behest of sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta – are huge admirers of the 26-year-old.

The Gunners made three unsuccessful bids for Luiz in the summer window of 2022. The highest offer of the trio totalled just £25m.

Understandably, Villa spurned each offer and Luiz quickly made a mockery of those bids when taking his game to new heights over the next two years.

Villa are understood to have placed a prohibitive £100m valuation on the player that as yet, has scared off each and every suitor. Aside from Arsenal, Liverpool and Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan have also shown interest in the player.

Aston Villa to accept cut-price Douglas Luiz bids

But according to fresh reports, Villa’s financial situation means they’ll now accept a heavily discounted deal to ensure they pocket the necessary funds before June 30.

Numerous outlets now state Villa are reluctantly open to selling Luiz and will say yes if £50m is put on the table.

That will be music to the ears of Edu and Arteta who are seeking a younger and hungrier upgrade on Thomas Partey.

As such, Arteta could conceivably field a high-powered midfield three of Luiz, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard next season.

Jorginho would provide cover, while Kai Havertz also proved he can make a major impact in midfield if the Gunners sign a new striker to lead the line.