Chelsea are ready to abandon their pursuit of Aaron Ramsdale altogether as Arsenal plan to keep him beyond January.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have pulled out of the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale in January and may not pursue the 25-year-old Arsenal ace next summer. The Blues are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper. But they might wait until the season ends to find another option.
Chelsea In the Market for a Goalkeeper?
Robert Sanchez has not delivered since his move from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer. The Spaniard remains an unconvincing figure at Stamford Bridge, with suggestions that Chelsea might look for another stopper in January to replace him.
The Blues have explored the market for a few options and may have decided to postpone the signing of a new goalkeeper until the summer. They also considered a move for Aaron Ramsdale, with the 25-year-old Arsenal ace no longer a starter at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign David Raya during the summer as competition for Ramsdale and then subsequently promote the Spaniard as his No.1 has left a sour taste for the England international. The 25-year-old looked set to improve within the squad, but his development may have seen a halt.
Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal: What’s the Deal?
The big issue for Ramsdale is guaranteeing a place in the England squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He knows the need to play regular football and may have thought about a move away from Arsenal to join someone else. Arsenal are ready to block any move for Ramsdale, considering Chelsea and Newcastle United are reportedly interested.
Arteta wants to keep hold of his current squad as Arsenal embark on another important season. Hence, the manager might not look for many sales and keep his players, including Ramsdale, in January. Now, Chelsea are reportedly ready to pull out of the race for two reasons.
Firstly, they do not consider the 25-year-old Arsenal ace as someone who fits their profile requirements. Secondly, they feel that the Gunners would not sell the player and strengthen a local rival. Moreover, they might also consider the price Arsenal might place on the keeper, which could exceed £50-60 million in the current climate.
Considering every factor, with Arsenal’s unwillingness to sell in January the most important of them all, Chelsea may not pursue Ramsdale in January and beyond. They will likely abandon their pursuit of a goalkeeper next month to focus on other areas while postponing their search for a new No.1 to the summer window.