Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale should be a Sheffield United player within 48 hours after the Blades had an £18.5 million bid accepted, according to The Star.
While the exodus is yet to really get underway at the Vitality Stadium, the South Coast club could still see their number one goalkeeper follow legendary manager Eddie Howe out of the door by Thursday.
Sheffield United have identified Ramsdale as the perfect replacement for the departing Dean Henderson – and with good reason.
Although the 22-year-old conceded 63 times in 37 matches during his debut Premier League campaign, Bournemouth would have been consigned to life in the Championship a lot earlier than the final day if it wasn’t for his heroics between the sticks.
One mesmerising performance against Brighton during the Christmas period was a display a peak-era Petr Cech or David de Gea would have been proud of.
Howe even went so far as to describe Ramsdale as an ‘exceptional goalkeeper’.
Sky suggested on Monday that Aston Villa were attempting to hi-jack Sheffield United’s bid at the 11th hour but it seems that the Blades are too far down the road at this stage.
So much so that, according to the Star, Ramsdale will become the club’s second-biggest signing of all time within 48 hours.
The England U21 international actually started his career at Sheffield United but failed to make a single first-team appearance for the Blades.
They do say ‘never go back’ but, in Ramsdale’s case, this feels like the natural next step in a career which promises so much.
“I know Aaron is a Sheffield boy, he’s from that way and Sheffield United are in the Premier League,” newly-appointed Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall told the Daily Echo last week.
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