Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Mills has questioned Arsenal’s obsession with signing Aaron Ramsdale and feels they should be looking elsewhere.
The Gunners have made no secret of their desire to land the Sheffield United shot-stopper this summer. The north Londoners are said to have tabled bids for the 23-year-old; the last one being in the region of £25m. Manager Mikel Arteta appears to have lost faith with current number one Bernd Leno.
And he is working hard to bring the former Bournemouth man to the Emirates Stadium. Ramsdale played every minute of the Blades 2020-21 Premier League campaign.
His exploits at the back could not keep them in the top flight, however. And, having gone down with the Cherries the previous season, it meant back-to-back relegations for the Stoke-born ace.
The former AFC Wimbledon loan star was called into the England squad for this summer’s European Championship when Dean Henderson was injured. He did not make an appearance but will hope to challenge Jordan Pickford in the coming years.
He will need to be in the Premier League to do that and Arsenal may help in that respect. There is no guarantee that Ramsdale would be first choice with the Gunners.
And a perplexed Mills cannot understand why they do not opt for a cheaper alternative from Newcastle.
“It’s bizarre,” he told Football Insider. “Go and get Freddie Woodman for £10million. If you want a back up goalkeeper, there you go.
“He’s got good experience, a decent goalkeeper. He’s coming through and will cost you probably less than half.”
Mills doubts Ramsdale value
There is no question that Ramsdale is a quality keeper and one destined for a big future in the game. But Mills has questioned whether his current value is a bit over the top given the quality around.
“Aaron Ramsdale is not like ‘Wow, outstanding goalkeeper worth more than £30million’. It seems like a lot of money for what you’re getting,” he added.
“You don’t look at him last season and go ‘Wow’. Look at Dean Henderson’s season in the Premier League with Sheffield United and if somebody bought him for £30million you get it.
“I know Aaron Ramsdale got in the England squad but there weren’t too many goalkeepers around and there were injuries. £30million seems a lot, an awful lot.”
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