Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has dropped perhaps the strongest hint yet that he is ready to quit the Gunners during the summer transfer window.
The former Sheffield United and Bournemouth man, who is currently away with the England squad preparing for Euro 2024, was ruthlessly demoted to second-choice at the Emirates behind David Raya last season.
Mikel Arteta's decision to bring in the Brentford loanee was met with several raised eyebrows, and criticism of his choice heightened when Raya made a few early errors in between the sticks.
However, Arteta persisted with his compatriot, a move that paid off as Raya shone during Arsenal's run to the Champions League quarter-finals and won the Premier League Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets.
Following the September international break, Ramsdale's only two Premier League appearances came against Raya's parent club Brentford; two matches that Arsenal won despite a handful of mistakes from the England international.
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Ramsdale "never" wants another year as Arsenal's number two
Despite only signing a new deal until 2026 last year, Ramsdale's lack of game time is expected to lead to a summer departure from Arsenal, and his father memorably stated that his son had "lost his smile" after losing his spot in the side.
The 26-year-old also remains behind Jordan Pickford in the England pecking order thanks in no small part to his club situation, and he has vowed to "never" go through another season as number two, seemingly confirming that his time at Arsenal is up.
"No footballer wants to not play. I've had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again," Ramsdale told talkSPORT ahead of England's Euro 2024 opener with Serbia on Sunday.
"I've got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I play a minute or no minutes [and England win the Euros], it will be the pinnacle for me, the best day ever.
"For the time being I'm probably one of the happiest 26, 27 men in England and hopefully we can make not just us but however many millions at home the happiest as well."
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As Arsenal are on the verge of making Raya's loan deal from Brentford permanent, Ramsdale is set to depart with 32 clean sheets under his belt from 89 appearances since his £30m arrival from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021.
What next for Ramsdale ahead of Arsenal exit?
While Ramsdale quickly won over the naysayers in the Arsenal goal with a string of acrobatic saves and his comical antics, Raya's superior footwork abilities were evident throughout the campaign, and the Gunners should not stand in the Englishman's way of an exit.
There has been talk of Chelsea and Bayern Munich competing for the Englishman's signature, as the Blues failed to settle on a designated number one last term, alternating between Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez.
Sanchez was briefly tipped to leave but is now expected to stay put under Enzo Maresca, while Bayern are planning for life after the long-serving Manuel Neuer but have reportedly baulked at the Gunners' £30m asking price.
Newcastle United are also not willing to bend to Arsenal's demands and are instead targeting Burnley's James Trafford, so the Gunners could instead let Ramsdale depart on loan for the 2024-25 season.
Ben Knapton
