Chelsea are set to resist making a move for Aaron Ramsdale next month despite seeing Robert Sanchez ruled out with a long-term injury, according to reports. Ramsdale has been linked with a January switch after falling out of favour at Arsenal, with his father suggesting that he is unhappy in north London during a recent podcast appearance.
The England ace has played second fiddle to David Raya for much of this season and seems unlikely to win his place back any time soon. His lack of action has seen him linked with a potential move to Chelsea, who have been tipped to seek emergency cover for Sanchez when the bidding opens next month.
However, it seems as though Ramsdale will be overlooked by Chelsea when it comes to solving their goalkeeping situation over the coming weeks. The Blues are set to give Djordje Petrovic a run in the team rather than delving into the transfer market for a new option between the sticks, according to the Evening Standard.
Petrovic made his first Chelsea start against Sheffield United over the weekend, keeping a clean sheet in the process, and has seemingly done enough to earn the trust of Mauricio Pochettino. He is expected to deputise in the absence of Sanchez, who is set for a significant spell on the treatment table after suffering a knee injury in the defeat to Everton.
Chelsea will instead use the winter market to strengthen in other areas of the pitch, with the west Londoners stuck in mid-table after making a horrendous start to the campaign. They have lost more than half of their games in the Premier League this season and look set to miss out on qualifying for Europe for the second year in a row.
Ramsdale, meanwhile, has also been linked with a move to Newcastle after slipping down the pecking order at Arsenal. The Magpies are set to be without Nick Pope for a number of months after he dislocated his shoulder in their recent victory over Manchester United.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would be willing to let Ramsdale leave, with the 25-year-old reportedly open to an exit in order to play regular football elsewhere. His father Nick recently admitted that his son had ‘lost his smile’ as a result of his current situation, which has seen him reduced to a back-up role at the Emirates Stadium.
“Aaron’s lost that smile to when he was holding on to that ball at this moment in time and it is difficult,” Ramsdale’s father told the Highbury Corner podcast. “It really is difficult to see him there and we all keep saying: ‘You need to keep smiling’. It’s possibly the way it’s been done.
“Not knowing the reason why, and this is me because we don’t know why. Again, Aaron is working as hard as he can. He’s trying to do his best for the squad. He’s upbeat and he’ll do everything for Arsenal to try and win the league.
“Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off. Aaron’s got to live with that and he is living with that even though he’s not been told it by anybody.”
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