Arsenal are reportedly confident of retaining Aaron Ramsey and tying the Welshman down to a new contract amidst interest from Barcelona and others.
The Mirror are speculating that Arsenal have tabled a contract offer to Aaron Ramsey and are confident that the Welshman will choose to extend his contract at Emirates. The midfielder has been linked with the likes of Barcelona, Lazio and was reportedly a target for Chelsea and Manchester United.
Aaron Ramsey is a name that has almost become synonymous with Arsenal. One of the early hopes at the club, Ramsey found it tough to recover from the broken tibia and fibula in March, 2010 that relegated him to the sidelines for the better part of a year.
But, the Welshman did find his footing upon his return to action and was able to cement a place within the Arsenal first-team setup. However, Ramsey has never managed to have an injury-free season, with the midfielder missing at least 10 fixtures every season barring the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns.
Still, there is no doubt as to his quality, which has Ramsey being linked with a host of clubs with only a year left on his Arsenal contract. Chelsea and Manchester United were named to be potential suitors. But, the transfer window has slammed shut in England, meaning the duo will have to wait until January to launch an assault on Arsenal for the Welshman.
Two other clubs interested in Aaron Ramsey are Barcelona and Lazio. While Lazio might be an interesting option, Barcelona have always remained an admirer of the Welshman’s ability.
Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal have already been added to Barcelona’s midfield arsenal. But, the Catalans seem to be looking for one more player in order to complete their midfield overhaul, of sorts. Paul Pogba is a player Barcelona remain keen on. But, according to recent reports, they seemed to have conceded defeat in his pursuit, at least for the current transfer window.
With only a year left on Aaron Ramsey’s deal, Barcelona could move for the Welshman, since he would come cheap. Another prospect is Barcelona waiting till January, when Ramsey will be able to agree a pre-contract with clubs outside of England, as per Bosman rules.
Arsenal though, have tabled a contract and are confident that Ramsey will commit to the club. Ramsey has been public about his love for the club but has also said he might need to consider leaving Arsenal in order to move a step ahead in his career.
Unai Emery chose to strengthen the midfield with the addition of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira. Ramsey though, was in the starting eleven as Emery deployed him in the number 10 role against Manchester City, meaning he is very much in the plans that the manager has for Arsenal.
The report iterates that Ramsey wants a pay rise and is egging for wages above the £200,000 per week, something he knows he can command if he decides to run down his Arsenal contract.
Despite the wage structure at Arsenal, which has been relaxed to a great extent in recent times, the club look prepared to give Ramsey a heightened pay package but would like to meet midway with the Welshman. Everything points to another tumultuous contract situation at Arsenal after the club oversaw the contract disputes with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
