Arteta refuses to rule out Ramsdale sale amid Newcastle links

Aaron Ramsdale‘s future is still up in the air and Mikel Arteta’s latest comments will have done little to change that.

The goalkeeper has lost his starting place to Brentford loanee David Raya and the Spaniard is expected to join permanently at the end of the season, with reports suggesting that the Gunners have already triggered his buy-option.

Raya’s summer arrival has limited Ramsdale to just eight appearances in all competitions this term and speculation about his future continues to abound. After previous links to Chelsea, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have now emerged as potential suitors for the Arsenal No.2 after Nick Pope suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out of action for several months.

As revealed by FootballTransfers, Arsenal would prefer to keep Ramsdale at least until the end of the season, but they would be prepared to sell at the right price of £50 million. If Ramsdale were to push for a move, we were told, Mikel Arteta would not stand in his way and the head coach has now revealed this publicly.

What did Arteta say?

Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s clash with Luton Town, Arteta said of Ramsdale: “I want Aaron with us. I am very happy to have two very, very good goalkeepers and Aaron is staying with us. We want to be better, so we want to add to what we already have. That’s the intention that we have.”

However, when asked to definitely rule out a move amid the fresh Newcastle rumours, the Spaniard changed his tune: “I won’t do that to any player, any player. I cannot tell you that any Arsenal player is not going to leave in January. Or he is to stay here for the next three years.”

“I won’t say that no player is going to go to Newcastle. Or no member of the staff either. I won’t say it. If you say yes or no, I won’t say it. I cannot guarantee that nobody is going to be leaving in January. For Newcastle or any other club. So it is a no.”