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Chelsea have decided against pursuing a deal for out-of-favour Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale.
The Blues are on the hunt for a top-class goalkeeper to help kick-start the Enzo Maresca era, with both Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic failing to nail down the position across the 2023/24 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Caleb Wiley, Renato Veiga, Omari Kellyman and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have already been signed this summer and Stamford Bridge bosses are determined to further strengthen before the transfer deadline.
Chelsea have been keeping tabs on several ‘keepers across Europe in recent months, with Everton star Jordan Pickford, Villarreal shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen and Brazil international Bento all linked.
The west London giants have also been credited with an interest in English duo Ramsdale and James Trafford – but the club have now ruled out both players as targets, according to The Athletic.
Ramsdale had seemingly secured his place as Arsenal’s number one following a £24million move from Sheffield United back in 2021, with the 26-year-old making 78 appearances across his two opening two seasons in north London.
But David Raya’s arrival on loan from Brentford raised immediate doubts over Ramsdale’s future at the club and the England international was limited to just six games in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta last term.
Raya has since joined Arsenal on a permanent basis and widespread reports suggest the Gunners are open to offers for Ramsdale, who still has two years remaining on his current contract in north London.
Earlier this month, club legend David Seaman urged Ramsdale to seek an escape route out of the Emirates for the good of his own career.
‘I’ve always said Aaron is too good to be a number two. He’s a fantastic player. He needs to play. Wherever that is, I don’t know,’ Seaman told The Daily Star.
‘It’s a weird situation. Ideally, you’d love him to stay because that would be great for the club.
‘But he needs to move for his career. And that includes England because, if he’s not playing, he’ll keep dropping down the pecking order with them.’
Speaking to talkSPORT, Ramsdale – who has also been linked with Newcastle – admitted it was a ‘release’ to be with England at the European Championship in Germany after an extremely ‘tough’ 12 months at club level.
‘No footballer wants to not play, I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again,’ he said last month.
‘It was tough, it was tough. But I have my release now, I’m now here, I’ve got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on greatest badge on my chest.’
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