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It seems that Southampton head coach Will Still is on the verge of losing his most important player ahead of the 2025-26 Championship campaign. Newcastle United is reportedly making moves to sign goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, opening talks with Southampton to bring him in either on loan or a permanent deal. Ramsdale, who conceded 66 goals across 30 Premier League matches for Southampton last season, has drawn significant transfer interest throughout the summer from different clubs. With the English international ranking among the highest-paid players in the Championship and determined to remain in the top tier to bolster his chances with the Three Lions, his departure from Southampton this summer appeared all but certain.
Southampton signed Ramsdale from the Gunners in August 2024 for a guaranteed fee of £18 million, with the total potentially reaching £25 million through performance-based add-ons. He still has three years remaining on his contract with the Saints. Newcastle United seem eager to introduce competition for their current No.1, Nick Pope, and the transfer would see Ramsdale reunite with his former Bournemouth boss, Eddie Howe. Newcastle missed out on signing James Trafford from Manchester City and are now turning towards the Englishman.
Newcastle keen on signing Aaron Ramsdale on loan with the purchase option
According to the report from The Athletic, although Newcastle are in talks to sign Ramsdale, the initial offer would be a loan with the purchase option. Southampton are pushing for a permanent transfer, and if a loan deal is considered, it expects a substantial loan fee in return. As it stands, no agreement has been reached between the clubs. Earlier, Rangers and Galatasaray showed their interest towards the goalkeeper. But now, Magpies are the ones who are seemingly winning the race.
Arsenal are also in favor of a permanent sale, as a loan with an option would bring no immediate financial gain. Meanwhile, Newcastle is preparing to play in the Champions League campaign, and are also working towards building a strong team for the upcoming seasons. One of the reasons is the uncertainty about the striker Alexander Isak as a future player, who has attracted interest from Liverpool.
