Arsenal are closing on a £30m deal to sign the Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The 23-year-old, who was part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad at Euro 2020, is expected to provide competition for Bernd Leno and was Mikel Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeping target this summer.
The proposed deal is for Ramsdale worth an initial £24m, plus £6m in performance-related add-ons. Arteta is understood to be keen on adding a contingent of young players with personality to develop on his watch. Arsenal have already signed the defender Ben White for £50m from Brighton, while a move for the Norway midfielder Martin Ødegaard is also thought to be progressing.
Ramsdale was left out of Sheffield United’s squad for Wednesday’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion. Bournemouth stand to benefit after inserting a 15% sell-on clause when they sold the goalkeeper back to Sheffield United for £18.5m last year.
Following the 4-0 loss at the Hawthorns, the United manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: “It’s not really what I want but it’s difficult to stop this kind of situation. It’s a huge deal for the club and we have been relegated from the Premier League, so it’s complicated to say no.”
Arsenal had begun exploring a move for the Barcelona goalkeeper Neto after negotiations with Sheffield United hit an impasse, with the Championship club asking for nearer £40m. But talks accelerated this week and Ramsdale could even be registered in time for Arsenal’s game against Chelsea on Sunday.
Last week Arsenal fielded 19-year-old goalkeeper Karl Hein on the bench for their opening-day defeat at Brentford, with backup goalkeeper Alex Rúnarsson unwell.