Aaron Ramsdale drops subtle transfer hint as Arsenal keeper set for summer exit

Aaron Ramsdale has already admitted he does not want another season like the one he just had at Arsenal. The England shot-stopper was usurped as Arsenal number one by loanee David Raya.

Raya is expected to make his loan move from Brentford permanent this summer, in a £27million transfer. The Spaniard played all but six of the Gunners' Premier League games last season. Three he could not play in - the opening match of the season as he was still at Brentford and the two games against his parent club.

He was on the bench for the first three matches of his Arsenal career, before making the number one shirt his own thereafter. Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of England's Euro 2024 opener, Ramsdale opened up on his future at the Emirates Stadium.

"No footballer wants to not play,” he said. "I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again. It was tough, it was tough.

"But I have my release now, I’m now here, I’ve got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if I play a minute or no minutes, it will be the pinnacle for me, the best day ever."

Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Ramsdale, while London rivals Chelsea are also understood to be interested in his signature. It is sure to be an intriguing summer when it comes to Ramsdale and where his future lies.

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Any transfer is unlikely to be completed until after the European Championships now, but just like his message to talkSPORT, Ramsdale has dropped another, albeit subtle, transfer hint. The England keeper took on the Ben Foster shooting challenge in an episode of the Fozcast on YouTube.

Ramsdale showed off his quality with his feet, scoring some superb goals in the video but there was one conversation with Foster that would have pricked the ears of supporters.

With the pair taking part in a final penalty shootout, Foster was getting annoyed at Ramsdale "playing safe" by firing into the bottom left corner. Foster said: "Take this pen like you're taking in the FA Cup final, all the other penalty takers have been exhausted now, it's down to the goalies."

That smarted with Ramsdale. "I'm not going last. I wouldn't go last," he rebuffed. When Foster asked if he would go in the first five, Ramsdale responded that he would ask to go first five, but would not be allowed, probably going at eight or nine instead.

The Arsenal keeper then proceeded to fire another spot-kick into the bottom corner, with Foster retorting: "It's so safe, it's sickening."

And in his riposte, Ramsdale said: "I just won my team the FA Cup." You might say 'I just won Arsenal the FA Cup' given he's an Arsenal player, but the use of 'my team' suggests he may not see his future in north London much longer.