Newcastle United 'most likely destination' for £30m out of favour Arsenal star

Aaron Ramsdale could be set to leave Arsenal this summer and reports suggest a move to Newcastle United is the 'most likely' outcome.

Despite enjoying an encouraging campaign at Arsenal last season and contributing to their Premier League title push, Ramsdale has been pushed down the pecking order. Mikel Arteta's desire to land a ball-playing goalkeeper saw the Gunners sign David Raya from Brentford and it is clear the Spaniard is first-choice.

The last league game Ramsdale started was against Brentford, and that was only because Raya was ineligible, having initially signed on loan for the season. That lack of football has put the 25-year-old's place in the England squad under threat and Sports Lens reports he could look for more regular minutes elsewhere.

A number of Premier League teams will be keen on taking Ramsdale this summer but the report names Newcastle as the most likely suitor. Eddie Howe's side could soon enter the market for a long-term solution between the posts, with Nick Pope a consistently impressive presence but 32 in April and into the final two years of his contract at the end of June.

The other major player in the report is Chelsea, whose search for a first-choice goalkeeper has been long, expensive and ultimately unsuccessful. They have spent a combined £132million on Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy, Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic in recent years but could once again be in the market for a shot-stopper this summer.

Newcastle have been without Pope since the start of December after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder, with second-choice Martin Dubravka filling in commendably. Howe's side have been rather porous at the back, however, and that is expected to be a point of focus in the summer.

The Magpies will have to contend with profitability and sustainability constraints this summer and could be forced to sell one of their stars in order to fund a wider rebuild of the squad.