Sheffield United are demanding £40m for Arsenal target Aaron Ramsdale, according to reports in the local media.
The Gunners are said to be preparing a formal offer for the 23-year-old, which is expected to be submitted after the European Championships. However, the goalkeeper’s sky-high price tag has got fans talking on Twitter:
You can’t be serious ?
— Its in our hands ??????? (@_AFCKG_) June 30, 2021
40m lol pic.twitter.com/i64YPj32Eb
— SJ afc (@SJ_arsenal) June 30, 2021
Not worth more than £10m dfkm
— , (@afcwen) June 30, 2021
They must be high on something
— $tanlee ?? (@Stanlee_green) June 30, 2021
I mean Sheffield spent £23.5 million on Brewster, clearly they have no idea how to value a player. ??♂️
— Evan Cooper (@Lacazest) June 30, 2021
Why are we linked with this keeper? He’s not better than Leno.
— Petes (@PetestheGooner) July 1, 2021
I’d say he is worth more like £40
— Richard McFaul (@RMcFaul0910) July 1, 2021
Onana is better than than him and we can get him for lesser price. But it is Arsenal, I understand ?
— Taiyelolu Wordsmith (@therealTaiwo) July 1, 2021
It’s clear Ramsdale’s asking price is very much down to the “English premium.” Players born in this country generally have their values inflated compared to those of other nationalities.
Whether the Blades are genuinely seeking £40m, we shall have to wait and see. They did sign Ramsdale from Bournemouth for £18.5m so they will be looking to make a profit of some kind, but they were relegated last season, which should reduce his value somewhat.
The Gunners could well be forced into looking at alternatives. Ajax’s Andre Onana has been heavily linked but reports suggest that the Cameroon international is no longer a top priority after his doping ban was only reduced by three months.