Aaron Ramsdale (Getty Images)
According to the Sheffield Star, Premier League side Sheffield United are set to sign goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Championship outfit AFC Bournemouth in a £18.5m deal.
The Blades were in negotiations with Manchester United for the signing of Dean Henderson. However, having grown frustrated with elongated talks, they turned their attention towards Ramsdale and are now closing in on the Englishman’s signing. (h/t Sheffield Star)
Ramsdale started out at the academy of Bolton Wanderers before joining the Sheffield United youth setup. The 22-year-old enjoyed steady progress through the Blades’ youth ranks before making his first-team debut in November 2016. He made just two appearances before Bournemouth came calling in January 2017.
Ramsdale had loan spells away at Chesterfield and Wimbledon before he became a regular for the Cherries in the 2019/20 season. The shot-stopper has also represented the England national team at U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels.
Sheffield United were one of the best defensive units in the recently concluded campaign, thanks in part to the brilliance of Dean Henderson between the sticks. However, the Englishman is back at parent club Manchester United following the expiry of his loan spell.
This had left the Blades with just Michael Verrips and Simon Moore as the options in goal, neither of whom are experienced at the Premier League. They made just five appearances in all competitions between them in the season gone by.
The club has managed to add some experience in the form of Wes Foderingham, who has arrived on a free transfer from Rangers. But he too isn’t well-versed with the demands of the Premier League and comes on the back of a season when he played just five times.
Thus, signing someone who has performed well in the league, like Ramsdale, is a good move by the club. The 22-year-old did go down with Bournemouth. While he kept just five clean sheets over the course of the season, he put on some impressive displays between the sticks, making the third-most saves in the 2019/20 PL (129).
Ramsdale is someone Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder knows well, having worked with him in the past. Signing him would boost the quality and depth in their goalkeeping department, setting them up for another strong season.
Henderson’s return to Manchester United has left a huge void in goal for Sheffield United. And signing their former star Ramsdale would address that adequately. In his first and only Premier League campaign in 2019/20, the Englishman gave a good account of himself. And given his age, he can be the Blades’ No.1 for years to come.
