Mikel Arteta is starting his summer overhaul at Arsenal, but he has been forced to make an unexpected move after one of his star players hinted they are ready to leave
Mikel Arteta has begun the search for a new back-up goalkeeper after Aaron Ramsdale hinted his is ready to leave Arsenal.
Ramsdale was the Gunners’ No.1 for two years until last summer, when Arteta surprisingly decided to bring David Raya in on loan. Raya quickly took Ramsdale’s place and the Spaniard has now been brought back permanently.
The Englishman would make just 10 appearances in all competitions as Raya made himself Arteta’s new first-choice keeper. He was still selected for England’s squad for Euro 2024, but last month admitted he did not want to be a bench player for another season.
“No footballer wants to not play. I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again. I’ve got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest, if I play a minute or no minutes [and England win the Euros], it will be the pinnacle for me, the best day ever,” he told talkSPORT.
“For the time being I’m probably one of the happiest 26, 27 men in England and hopefully we can make not just us but however many millions at home the happiest as well. When you come to the national team, when you find your role, when you know your role.
“I would do absolutely anything if he said I was number three, number four, number one, I would do anything for the team, I’d be on the training pitch for four hours if I could.
“Competition is what we need, we don’t want 11 players who are going to pick itself, we want to give headaches to the staff, we can’t just rely on 11 players for seven games if you want to win the tournament.”
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Just under a month after Ramsdale’s comments, the Gunners have made moves to replace Ramsdale in the back-up role. According to The Athletic, Arsenal chiefs have contacted Wolves to express an interest in signing Dan Bentley.
The Midlands side are not interested in selling the 30-year-old unless they receive a suitable offer that allows them to invest in a replacement. That could come from the Gunners, who are said to have identified him as a potential back-up for Raya.
Karl Hein is also in the Arsenal squad, though he remains inexperienced at the top level. Bentley meanwhile is seen as a key member of the Wolves squad, despite playing only five Premier League games last season.
Bentley only moved to Molineux in January 2023 from Bristol City but is understood to have made a strong impression around the dressing room. Ironically, his debut for Wolves came in a defeat to Arsenal last December.
He then kept a clean sheet in a win over Burnley a few weeks later. Bentley started his career at Southend United, before spells at Brentford and finally the Robins ahead of his move to Wolves.
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