Club 'already planning' for exit of £25m Man Utd target as move for Sunderland star lined up
Manchester United and West Ham United have emerged as the frontrunners in the race to land Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old only left Arsenal last summer to complete a £25m move to 2024 Championship play-off winners Southampton, but now looks destined to be on the move once again just nine months later with the club’s relegation to the second-tier already confirmed.
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Hide AdRamsdale has won just two of the 27 league games he has played in this season, keeping just two clean sheets and conceding 62 goals, which equates to an average of more than two a game.
However, he has managed to record 113 saves this season and has been one of the Saints’ best performers in a miserable campaign which could well end up being the joint worst in top-flight history alongside Derby County in 2007/08.
Man Utd plot move for Aaron Ramsdale
Mirror Sport understands both the Red Devils and West Ham are interested in signing Aaron Ramsdale this summer despite his difficult campaign at St Mary’s Stadium.
United dropped Andre Onana once again during last weekend’s 4-3 defeat to Brentford and though it’s suspected the Cameroonian is being rested for the Europa League on this occasion, he’s been the subject of criticism throughout the campaign by fans, pundits and even former midfielder Nemanja Matic, who described him as the ‘worst goalkeeper in the club’s history.’
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Hide AdOnana is now in his second season at Old Trafford and has struggled to live up to the demands of the £47.2m price tag that the club paid Inter Milan. It’s led to rumours of a potential exit to raise funds for incoming signings.
Ramsdale is seen as a cost effective solution to this problem. He’s Premier League proven from his time at Arsenal and was included in the PFA Team of the Season as recently as 2022/23.
Many Gunners fans felt he was unlucky at the time to be dislodged by David Raya, with many expecting him to be England’s number one in years to come after an excellent start to his chapter in North London.
Meanwhile, West Ham are also contenders to sign Ramsdale, according to Mirror Sport. They are expected to back Graham Potter heavily in his first summer at the London Stadium as the club try and climb up the table after a lacklustre league campaign.
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Hide AdSouthampton are already planning for Aaron Ramsdale’s departure
Southampton are facing up to the grim reality of a second 20th place finish in three seasons and are expected to cut the cost of their wage bill ahead of a season back in the Championship. Ramsdale is expected to be leave as he likely to be one of the club’s highest earners and with that in mind the St Mary’s outfit are already lining up a move to replace him with Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson.
Patterson, who's also being looked at by Tottenham and Burnley, could be the subject of a bid from the Saints if Sunderland don't win the Championship play-offs.
Ramsdale will hope to get a Premier League move to boost his England chances ahead of the World Cup and put behind a difficult chapter of his career, which has resulted in a fourth relegation.
After the Saints' early relegation was confirmed last month, Ramsdale sent an emotional message to supporters.
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Hide Ad"A very hard day & tough one to take," he posted on Instagram. "This is a special club with amazing fans - we are sorry that it has ended like this. You deserve better.”
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