Aaron Ramsdale’s three year stay with Arsenal unfortunately came to an end last summer, when the former Sheffield United goalkeeper swapped north London for Southampton.
Ramsdale had been replaced by David Raya at Arsenal, even if Mikel Arteta originally tried to paint it as two goalkeepers who would be continually in direct competition.
Fortunately for Arsenal, they were able to recoup most of the funds they paid to sign the England international back in 2021.
Of course, that money hasn’t been directly reinvested in a new goalkeeper just yet given that the Gunners chose to make do with Neto on loan from Bournemouth for a season.
But Arsenal want a new goalkeeper in the summer, and Ramsdale might be able to help them in an unexpected way.
Aaron Ramsdale can help Arsenal sign Joan Garcia this summer
For a while Arsenal have wanted Joan Garcia as their top target to provide back up and competition for Raya in net.
Garcia is thriving at Espanyol in La Liga and is understandably attracting interest from a host of Premier League sides.
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Manchester City want Garcia themselves – it won’t be easy to land the Spaniard’s signature this summer.
Although, according to Football Transfers, there could be something of goalkeeping merry-go-round this summer that works in Arsenal’s favour.
In a few months time, West Ham United are interested in signing Ramsdale from Southampton as part of their plans to improve under Graham Potter.
And as a result, current number one Alphonse Areola could then leave, and Garcia’s side Espanyol are said to be at the front of the queue.
West Ham are keen to sign Aaron Ramsdale
Therefore, in an ideal scenario, West Ham’s purchase of Ramsdale could push Garcia out of the door at Espanyol, a keeper the La Liga side already seem resigned to losing.
It appears that Arsenal’s biggest stumbling block when it comes to signing Garcia will be convincing a goalkeeper who is currently starting for his side to arrive as a number two.
However, if Espanyol are already making moves for their future beyond Garcia’s services, that may strengthen Arsenal’s negotiating position.
That being said, Arsenal have found a Garcia alternative if the Spaniard does prove too difficult to sign this summer.
There’s certainly a lot of moving pieces at play, and Andrea Berta really will be greeted with a baptism of fire when he officially starts work at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal’s new sporting director.
