Exclusive: "A lot of money" - Sky Sports pundit reveals Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton FC warning as transfer detail emerges | OneFootball

Don Goodman spoke exclusively to Football League World about Aaron Ramsdale's reported release clause at Southampton

Southampton are poised to oversee a number of high-profile departures in the coming months after their relegation from the Premier League was officially confirmed on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints made a miserable stab of attempting to stay in the Premier League after gaining promotion through the play-offs at the first attempt under Russell Martin, who was relieved of his duties back in December.

Martin was replaced by Ivan Juric, although he too fell short of threatening to inspire Southampton away from bottom spot and left almost as soon as Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur sealed the Saints' known fate, departing with a wretched record of 12 defeats from 14 matches.

Southampton will likely expect the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling, Paul Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Kyle Walker-Peters to depart the south coast before the 2025/26 Championship campaign initiates, while Aaron Ramsdale could also be among those heading out through the exit door.

The England international arrived just last summer from Arsenal, where he had been Mikel Arteta's first-choice goalkeeper for two seasons before being displaced by David Raya. He hasn't come cheap - Southampton completed an initial £18 million deal, which could rise to £25 million, with Ramsdale penning a four-year contract with the option of a further year

Ramsdale has made 23 appearances for the Saints this term, but, at the age of 26, feels likely to leave considering his pedigree, salary and sure-fire ambitions to remain in the top-flight and jostle for an international starting berth under new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.

It has recently emerged that Ramsdale, who is a reported target for Leeds United on the condition that Daniel Farke's side gain promotion to the Premier League, has a £25 million release clause in his contract, spelling further doubt over his St Mary's future.

Don Goodman's Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton FC release clause verdict

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Don Goodman issued a potential warning regarding Ramsdale's release clause.

In the view of the Sky Sports pundit, it's "a lot of money" and there may be concerns about whether potential suitors are willing to take that "gamble" on a goalkeeper now with three relegations on his CV, having also been demoted to the Championship in years gone by with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.

"Obviously, like most people, I do think Aaron Ramsdale has been a brilliant goalkeeper," Goodman told FLW.

"But it has been a difficult couple of years. A lot of people felt he was harshly treated at Arsenal in terms of David Raya coming in and being named number one when Ramsdale hadn't done a lot wrong, but you have to say Mikel Arteta's decision to do that has been absolutely vindicated.

"Raya has been outstanding, so that meant Ramsdale had to go away to Southampton to get first-team football. It was always a gamble from his perspective that he may add another relegation to his CV, I think that's three now.

"Not his fault, obviously, but he has a reputation to rebuild. There have been goals that have gone past him this season that he would be culplable for, his save ratio is the lowest he's ever had in his career so far.

"So yeah, £25 million release clause, it is a lot of money and somebody's going to have to take a gamble that they can get the best version of Ramsdale after what has been a pretty tough season for everybody at Southampton, let alone him."

Aaron Ramsdale's pedigree means he should be able to seal Southampton FC exit

Although Ramsdale certainly hasn't enjoyed the season he would have hoped for, when his move to Southampton was very much an opportunity to rebuild his career after being left in the cold at Arsenal, his proven pedigree and ability to be a top-class goalkeeper in the Premier League means he should still have suitors.

Should Ramsdale return to the levels he exhibited in his first two years at the Emirates Stadium, £25 million could actually represent something of a snip.

That's a big if, of course, and Southampton may now be hoping a number of top-flight clubs ignore the last couple of years and take a punt on Ramsdale as they look to clear the squad and wage bill following relegation.