Southampton had a chaotic night on Wednesday as they beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the Carabao Cup, but the big story of the evening was the fact that a deal looks to have been agreed to sign Aaron Ramsdale.
Russell Martin named a completely different starting XI from the one that has faced both Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in the league this season, as he looked to hand opportunities to players on the periphery.
A number of Southampton players took their chance, with Lesley Ugochukwu, Mateus Fernandes, Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Cameron Archer all impressing in the eight-goal thriller against Cardiff.
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Martin will have learned a lot about his players in South Wales but one thing he had no doubt about prior to the game was Southampton’s urgent need to sign a new goalkeeper and it now looks as though they are set to do just that.
Southampton agree deal to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has remained a target all summer, with Southampton initially favouring a loan but the Gunners looking to secure a sale.
That had seen the Saints turn their attention to Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, but that move fell through at the final hurdle as the 26-year-old failed his medical.
This increased the urgency of getting a goalkeeper through the door ahead of Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline and that has seen Southampton edge closer to the permanent signing of Ramsdale.
BBC Sport report that a deal has been struck that is worth an initial £18 million with up to £7 million of potential add-ons, meaning Ramsdale could end up costing Southampton £25 million.
Russell Martin thinks Ramsdale signing for Southampton would be ‘fantastic’
Whilst this is a big outlay for a goalkeeper, Ramsdale is an England international who until recently was tipped as the next big thing.
The 26-year-old lost his place at Arsenal to David Raya but is still a very good goalkeeper and represents a huge improvement on Martin’s current options.
News of there deal filtered through ahead of kick-off against Cardiff and the Daily Echo asked Martin what he could tell them about the agreed deal for Ramsdale after the game.
Martin responded: “I’ve been on the other side of the pitch so I don’t know. I think he’d be a fantastic addition, if we are able to do it.”
The Saints boss clearly did not want to jinx the transfer after seeing the Bijlow deal fall through, adding: “We’ll see because we had another goalkeeper in this week and it was well-documented and that didn’t happen.
“If it gets done, as and when it gets done, I’ll express my emotion about it to you then. But until then, I can’t really do very much.”
If Southampton can get this deal across the line then Martin will surely throw Ramsdale straight into action as the Saints seek their first points of the season away at Brentford.