Hammers open talks with relegated club over experienced shot-stopper | OneFootball

Ramsdale in West Ham Talks as Premier League Return Looms

West Ham consider Ramsdale amid goalkeeping reshuffle

Aaron Ramsdale’s turbulent year may soon take a restorative turn, with TalkSport reporting that West Ham United are in talks to bring the 27-year-old back to the Premier League. After a harrowing campaign with Southampton, the former Arsenal goalkeeper is believed to be a top target for new Hammers boss Graham Potter, who is seeking to reshape the club’s defensive foundations.

Ramsdale, who joined Southampton in 2024 following a frustrating final season at Arsenal, endured a difficult spell on the south coast. Southampton conceded 86 goals en route to relegation, with Ramsdale directly involved in 66 of them. The club’s 12-point finish was just one above Derby’s infamous all-time low.

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Despite that, Potter remains a firm admirer. Ramsdale’s past work in the top flight with Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Arsenal appears to have left a lasting impression. West Ham are now in need of a new long-term solution between the sticks, following Lukasz Fabianski’s departure after seven years of service.

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Financial terms and competition for places

Southampton are understood to be open to selling, particularly due to Ramsdale’s £100,000-per-week wage — a burden in the Championship. They are reportedly seeking £20 million for a player they signed for £18 million just under a year ago.

At West Ham, Ramsdale would need to compete with Alphonse Areola, though the Frenchman also had an inconsistent season in a side that finished 14th and conceded 62 goals — the sixth-highest in the division.

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For Ramsdale, a move back to London offers a much-needed opportunity to reset. “That’s why unfortunately you have to move on but I’m happy about where I’m at now,” he said last summer following his switch to St Mary’s. His words then reflect a wider truth about his journey: “You’ve got to restart your career again.”

From Arsenal promise to career crossroads

It is worth recalling Ramsdale’s rise. His performances for Sheffield United in 2020/21, particularly under extreme pressure, prompted Arsenal to invest £30 million — a club record for a goalkeeper — in the summer of 2021. He quickly established himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice keeper and earned five England caps.

However, his trajectory altered with the arrival of David Raya from Brentford. Although Arteta insisted he had “two No.1s”, reality played out differently. Ramsdale made just 11 appearances in 2023/24, as Raya clocked up 41.

“I tried my best to change his mind,” Ramsdale told TalkSport. “You can have all the upset or qualms about being taken out but when someone else is delivering, you’ve just got to take it on the chin.”

That humility, combined with experience and evident talent, explains why clubs like West Ham still see value in him — particularly with Arsenal now seeking to replace Neto as their No.2 and monitoring Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, who may be Barcelona-bound.

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This link feels like a gamble disguised as logic. On one hand, Ramsdale is still only 27, has England caps and Premier League pedigree. His best years should still be ahead of him. But on the other hand, he is coming off the back of a disastrous season with Southampton, conceding more than any other top-flight goalkeeper.

Spending £20 million on a player whose confidence looked shattered, and who comes with a six-figure wage demand, is a big call — especially when Areola is still in the building. Is this really the level of ambition West Ham should be aiming for under Potter? Or are they repeating old patterns of paying for reputation rather than form?

That said, if Ramsdale can recapture his 2021–2022 Arsenal form, it could prove a shrewd bit of business. But if this is the club’s marquee move in the goalkeeper department, fans will expect far more than just a name looking to “restart” their career.