Aaron Ramsdale heads into the new Premier League season knowing he will be Arsenal’s number two.
To the surprise of many, Mikel Arteta decided to change his goalkeepers last season by bringing David Raya on a loan deal from Brentford, before signing him permanently this summer.
The Spanish keeper made a difference, but Arsenal were still pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City and now they are trying to reduce those small margins via the use of the summer transfer market.
Arsenal have secured the signing of Riccardo Calafiori to further strengthen their defence, but they don’t have money to splash like Chelsea or Manchester City.
Funds will need to be raised, with Emile Smith Rowe already out of the door after joining Fulham and Reiss Nelson being linked with a move away from Arsenal.
But Arsenal have been told that they could now make a late move for a striker – the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of the month – by using money from the possible sale of Ramsdale.
Sources have told HITC that Ramsdale is one who could leave Arsenal before the deadline, and if that happens, then there is money on the table to spend.
And Stephen Warnock thinks that money could be used to lure Ivan Toney to the Emirates – his Brentford contract expires next summer.
The former left-back thinks the Gunners still ‘need a striker’ and they could get help from their London rivals, as he told Sky Sports News.
Arsenal backed to sign Ivan Toney
“I think they do need a striker,” said Warnock. “It’s good to have the options. I think it’s nice knowing that, off the bench, you have the ability to change a game and a change the style of play, at times.
“I think that’s probably what they need to kick onto the next level. I just wonder if they are waiting with the Ivan Toney (situation) to really push Brentford to the point where they don’t want to lose him for £20 million in January, or even worse case, the year after, you lose him for nothing. I think they will be looking at that situation.
“I also think they are wheeling and dealing a bit. I think Aaron Ramsdale might need to go to raise some funds and then they will look to do a deal for a striker.”
Ivan Toney’s transfer situation
Many were expecting the England international to be snapped up by now, but that’s not the case.
Sources have told HITC Arsenal’s transfer stance on Toney, with Spurs seemingly out of the race for him now because they have signed Dominic Solanke.
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It’s pretty clear, teams aren’t willing to pay the fee Brentford want for the player and how will they react during the final days of the window?
If you are Arsenal, then it’s worth having a very late punt – with an offer way below Brentford’s value – because they are at serious risk of losing him for nothing now.
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