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Sheffield United may have just dropped Aaron Ramsdale to Arsenal transfer hint
Arsenal reportedly want to sign England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer.
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Arsenal have been handed a major transfer boost by Sheffield United, who did not name Aaron Ramsdale in their squad to face Carlisle United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Ramsdale would have been ineligible to feature in the competition had he played and then completed his rumoured move to the Gunners.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is overseeing a major revamp of his squad, with fresh talent replacing senior players who have overstayed their welcome.
The Sheffield United goalkeeper is one player who has been linked with a transfer to the Emirates Stadium as Arteta plans to sort his goalkeeping options for the 2021-22 campaign.
Ramsdale was part of a Blades side who were comfortably relegated from the Premier League last term but their plight did not reflect his form.
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The 23-year-old made the third-highest amount of saves in the top-flight and impressed in a few of his displays.
It has led to Arteta and Arsenal technical director Edu targeting the England under-21 international.
Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno has been inconsistent since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018.
The 29-year-old made several high-profile errors last season, particularly when he allowed a shot by Richarlison to squirm through his grasp and roll into the net via his shin in a 1-0 defeat against Everton.
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Ramsdale would likely be brought in as second choice to Leno with a view to taking the No 1 shirt in the future.
Sky Sports reported in late July that Arsenal tabled a third offer for Ramsdale, worth around £25million.
And Arteta would want Ramsdale to be available for cup competitions to make sure he is ready to step up in Leno’s absence when the German departs permanently, as is currently expected in 2022.
That wish has been granted by Sheffield United boss Slavisa Jokanovic, who did not even name Ramsdale on the bench for the club’s League Cup tie against Carlisle.
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Ramsdale did play for the Yorkshire outfit in their 1-0 Championship defeat against Birmingham City on Saturday but that does not make him ineligible for domestic league matches if he signs for Arsenal.
The former Bournemouth shot-stopper was a late call-up for the England Euro 2020 squad over the summer, with Dean Henderson dropping out due to a back problem.
It marked an impressive rise for Ramsdale, who went full-circle by returning to Sheffield United in a £19m transfer last summer.
He came through the club's academy ranks before joining Bournemouth in 2017.
A half-season loan at AFC Wimbledon in League One in 2019 helped him become one of the most highly-rated young goalkeepers in the country, playing a huge role in the Dons' so-called Great Escape from relegation.
Joining Arsenal would make him one of a number of additions to Arteta's side over the summer.
Ben White has signed in a huge £50m deal from Brighton in a big-spending summer transfer spree.
Elsewhere midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has arrived from Anderlecht while Nuno Tavares has joined from Benfica.