Arsenal were in the midst of negotiations with Aaron Ramsey over extending his current contract further than the summer of 2019 but talks have not progressed well by the looks the recent reports. Daily Mail claim that the North London side is thinking about selling the player off instead of risking the idea of losing him for free.
The bosses at Emirates have learned from the drawn-out messy battle the club had to endure with Alexis Sanchez who eventually departed for Manchester United. The entire idea of selling the club’s number 8 off could stem from the terms that the player has set for his new extension.
Ramsey is not primarily as big a name in the Premier League as his teammate Mesut Ozil is. However, he is still a key figure in the Arsenal squad and is greatly favoured by Arsene Wenger. He has been with the North London club for almost a decade now and has racked up 320 appearances while scoring 54 and assisting 53.
He returned from a recurring injury concern with a bang against Everton in the previous month. He showcased his abilities in front of all the doubters and critics and answered with a hattrick against the Toffees in the 5-1 win. His positional sense along with a willingness to run behind the Everton defence is what makes him one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League.
The Wales international has undergone a tough season with a swarm of recurring injuries holding him back from the pitch but his contribution has still been at a top-pedigree level.
If he does make a club exit over the summer transfer window here are a few candidates Wenger should consider as replacements.
Emre Can
Standing at 6 feet tall, Can is an athletic presence in the heart of the park and plays in the anchor role for Liverpool. The Frankfurt-born midfielder is a key figure under Klopp and has racked up 4 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances this season.
However, recent reports claim that Liverpool are yet to sign him to an extension and recent negotiations have not progressed positively. Interests from Juventus were previously reported upon but the Serie A outfit has not agreed personal terms with him either.
Davy Klaassen
Klaassen arrived at Goodison Park last summer for £23.6m when Ronald Koeman was at the helm. However, the player has been a long time outcast of the Everton team and is a surplus to their requirements.
Nicolo Barella
Barella is a product of the Cagliari youth setup and has worked his way up to the first team making 24 total appearances this season. He has been a target of Liverpool and Manchester United for quite some time now and Arsenal should join the race.
