Arsenal identify dream Ramsdale replacement

Cameron Smith

• 2 Jul 2024 14:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the event that Aaron Ramsdale departs the club this summer.

Ramsdale, 26, was demoted to second-choice following David Raya’s arrival on loan last year and he has been heavily linked with an Arsenal departure.

Raya is expected to join the Gunners on a permanent deal and Mikel Arteta’s side are preparing for life without Ramsdale as a result.

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According to The Athletic, Arsenal have identified Garcia as a possible replacement for the England international. Garcia has a reported €25 million release clause and he is viewed as a likely transfer target.

The Spaniard, 23, kept eight clean sheets in 14 appearances for Espanyol last season as he played second-fiddle to Fernando Pacheco.

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What has Aaron Ramsdale said?

Although there has been little movement regarding Ramsdale’s future, the Gunners ‘keeper recently admitted that he has no interest in being a second-choice option next season.

Ahead of Euro 2024, the 26-year-old spoke to TalkSPORT and discussed his chances of usurping Jordan Pickford to become England’s number one. In the process he dropped a major hint regarding his Arsenal future.

“I think Jordan [Pickford] has had the shirt and we’ve all been trying desperately hard for the past five years to get it off him and he’s done incredibly well,’ Ramsdale said.

“And if he gets the nod then I hope he does incredibly well again because if he wins the tournament for me and I don’t play a minute, it’ll be the happiest day of my life.

“But what I would say is that squad numbers don’t always mean everything - we’re all fighting for the same goal, we’re all desperate to play. But then we also realise that it’s going to be a 26-man effort, 27 when you add Tom [Heaton] into it.

“No footballer wants to not play. I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again.”