27 November 2023 , 17:19
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Aaron Ramsdale's hopes of a move away from north London in January have been dented after an approach was rejected by Arsenal.
Arsenal signed David Raya on loan from Brentford with an option to buy and the Spaniard has leapfrogged Ramsdale in the pecking order. Since making his Gunners debut against Everton back in September, Raya has started every Premier League and Champions League game he has been eligible for.
And with Ramsdale admitting he is concerned a lack of regular game time for Arsenal could see him "fall by the wayside" for England ahead of Euro 2024, reports have claimed the 24-year-old could be on the move once the January transfer window opens.
Wolves are said to be interested in signing him if their first-choice goalkeeper Jose Sa were to leave. However, according to football.london, Arsenal are unwilling to let Ramsdale go and have already rejected an inquiry from an unnamed bottom-half Premier League team.
The report states that any move away from Arsenal would need to be something which takes his career forward, with the Daily Mail claiming back in September that both Chelsea and Bayern Munich were also eyeing a swoop for Ramsdale.
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It comes after Ramsdale's father Nick spoke out about the situation, criticising the way manager Mikel Arteta has handled things. "Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off." he told The Highbury Squad.
"Aaron's got to live with that and he is living with that even though he's not been told it. By anybody. You've got to give the guy a chance for God's sake. Even though the way it's been done, in my eyes, it's been wrong and we can talk about that but it's the decision.
Aaron Ramsdale has lost his spot as Arsenal's No.1 to David Raya (PA)"Aaron's lost that smile to when he was holding onto that ball at this moment in time. And it is difficult. It really is difficult to see him there and we all keep saying you need to keep smiling."
Ramsdale did start Arsenal's 1-0 win over Brentford on Saturday which saw them go top of the Premier League, but that was only because Raya was ineligible to face his parent club. Speaking after the game, Arteta praised his "big courage and big personality".
When asked about Ramsdale's performance in his post-match press conference, Arteta said: "This is football, I'm so happy with the team with the way team performed, we kept a clean sheet and we move on. I'm so happy. He has big courage and big personality, and that's why we love him."