The deadline day story at Arsenal is set to be a tale of goalkeepers.
One going, one arriving.
Aaron Ramsdale has signed for Southampton after a fee of around £25 million was agreed between the two Premier League clubs.
And with Arsenal very much stepping up their pursuit of a replacement, Saints boss Russell Martin pulls off what he feels will be a ‘huge signing’ for last season’s Championship play-off winners.
In Ramsdale’s place, meanwhile, could be a man who may pass the England international on his way up to North London from the South Coast.
Amid those links with Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle and the interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, Norberto Neto of AFC Bournemouth appears to have emerged as Arsenal’s most likely deadline day acquisition.
Arsenal close in on Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto
HITC have been told that The Gunners have agreed a deal for to bring in the highly-experienced Brazil international. Bournemouth appear willing to let Neto leave on loan after landing Chelsea misfit Kepa Arrizabalaga.
As such, this makes far more sense financially than a £30 million deal for Joan Garcia, especially with fellow Spaniard David Raya already firmly established as Arteta’s number one pick between the posts.
Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola opened up on Neto’s situation during his Friday press conference.
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And he feels that a move to a bonafide Premier League title challenger will be a positive step, even if the 35-year-old captain may find himself restricted to cup competitions.
“”If it happens, I think it would be a very good option for him,” Iraola says via Bournemouth’s official YouTube channel. “And we’re in a really good place with Kepa. (Mark) Travers is staying as well.
“The main idea of the club is to have three keepers.”
Aaron Ramsdale leaves the Emirates for Southampton
With Neto departing, that leaves Bournemouth with Kepa, Travers and youngster Will Dennis, back at the Vitality Stadium after an impressive spell at Kilmarnock north of the border.
Neto, meanwhile, is used to playing back up at a major European club. Formerly of Valencia and Fiorentina, he provided support for Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus and then played a similar role alongside Marc-Andre Ter Stegen at Barcelona.
Ramsdale’s switch has now also been confirmed, with hours still to go before the 11pm deadline.
“If it happens – when it happens – it will be a huge signing for us,” Southampton boss Martin told Sky Sports in the morning. “On the pitch, off the pitch, for the fans, the players and the staff and for our opposition as well. So I hope it gets completed and everyone is smiling at the end of it.
“We’ll have to wait and see. It is all about timings. I think the clubs are very advanced in what is going on with the paperwork and that stuff. But Arsenal are trying to bring one in themselves.
“If you asked me four or five weeks ago that we would have a chance of signing Aaron Ramsdale, I would have thought you were crazy,” adds the former Swansea City and MK Dons boss. “We spoke a bit over that bit of time, pestered him a little bit!
“Even a week ago, I thought it wasn’t achievable. But it’s worth trying still.”
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