Aaron Ramsey’s contract is set to come to an end next summer, but the right offer could see the 27-year-old leaving as soon as January, meaning Arsenal need to start looking at replacements.
Contract talks between Arsenal and Ramsey have reportedly come to an end in the last month or so. Although the midfielder is still playing a part for the team on the pitch, it seems inevitable that he’ll soon end his 10-year association with the Gunners.
Let’s have a look at the options linked to replace the Welshman:
Pablo Fornals
- Age: 22
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Club: Villarreal
- Contract until: 2022
- Estimated market value: £22.5m
Arsenal are reportedly considering a £17.8m move for Pablo Fornals as links with the player surface again.
Arsenal have been linked with Villarreal’s Pablo Fornals for some time now. In fact, he was once named as a possible Santi Cazorla replacement long before we even knew Santi would be leaving.
The midfielder has a £17.8m release clause according to this latest report and that has caught the attention of Arsenal who are said to be prepared to meet it.
An established first-team regular with Malaga before paying his own release clause of £10m to join Villarreal in 2017, Fornals has three goals and two assists this season in 17 games.
An attacking midfielder with a strong shot from distance, who is able to hold onto the ball well and loves a tackle, Fornals currently wears the number 8 for Villarreal. Assuming Ramsey really is on the way out, the Spaniard wouldn’t even have to change his number to move to North London.
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Houssem Aouar
- Age: 20
- Position: Central Midfield
- Club: Villarreal
- Contract until: 2023
- Estimated market value: £31.5m
Arsenal are also tracking Olympique Lyonnais star Houssem Aouar as a possible replacement for Aaron Ramsey, according to reports.
The Daily Mail write that Arsenal have been scouting Aouar for the last 18 months, and they consider him someone who could replace the Welshman in North London. The Lyon midfielder’s performances in this season’s Champions League have reportedly particularly caught Unai Emery’s eye.
The Week write that Aouar is ‘near the top’ of Emery’s list of players to sign when Ramsey leaves. Although Chelsea were initially planning to rival Arsenal for the 20-year-old’s signature, they’ve since turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic instead.
Aouar has five goals and four assists in 18 appearances for Lyon this season. He’s mostly playing in central midfield but has also spent some time on the left.
The youngster has also scored in both of his most recent u21 appearances for France. There were rumours that he might get a senior call-up before he picked up a knock immediately before the current international break.
A strong passer who contributes well defensively and counter-attacks impressively, Aouar certainly has the makings of a Ramsey-style midfielder. We’ll see if Arsenal decide to move for him in the next couple of windows.
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Miguel Almiron
- Age: 24
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Club: Atlanta United
- Contract until: 2020
- Estimated market value: £9m
The Almiron saga has been a bit back and forth so far. Fox Sports announced last month that Arsenal had agreed on an £11.5m deal to sign the midfielder from the MLS. That was followed up by a clarification from his agent that hinted at contact but said nothing was formal.
Since then, however, the comments of the 24-year-old’s agent have fallen by the wayside. The story of Almiron’s signing dominated the headlines for a while anyway, despite it being reported that the original comments from Atlanta’s president, Darren Eales, were not true:
However, genuine comments have since come out from the player’s agent claiming that whilst there’s still nothing concrete, Almiron will ‘certainly’ play in the Premier League. That’s that then.
Almiron has scored 13 goals and assisted 13 as well in his 35 appearances this year so far. Thanks to the calendar year format of the MLS, his season will end as the January transfer window opens. For now, Atlanta are preparing for an MLS Cup playoff semi-final.
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Ruben Neves
- Age: 21
- Position: Defensive Midfield
- Club: Wolves
- Contract until: 2023
- Estimated market value: £36m
Arsenal and Manchester City are interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, who prefers to stay in the Premier League than move abroad, according to reports in Portugal.
The story actually started in Italy, with Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) reporting that Juventus had met with Jeorge Mendes over a possible move for the Wolves man. However, Portuguese outlet Record then took over, claiming Neves would rather stay in the Premier League, where he’s already wanted by Arsenal and Manchester City.
Neves has been a crucial part of Wolves’ success over the last season and a half. After leaving Porto for the then Championship side, the midfielder helped his new team on an impressive promotion push. Since then, he’s been just as effective in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old is a very well rounded midfielder. He can pass, he has a deadly long-shot, he can take free kicks, and he’s also good at winning the ball back and staying focused out of possession.
Playing a more defensive position in the Wolves side, Neves perhaps doesn’t get involved in the goals as much as other midfielders. That’s not really his job though. Nonetheless, he has scored a couple of league goals this season, including one against Spurs.
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Ramires
- Age: 18
- Position: Defensive Midfield
- Club: EC Bahia
- Contract until: 2022
- Estimated market value: £36m
No, not the former Chelsea star. Arsenal are scouting 18-year-old midfielder Ramires of Brazilian club Esporte Clube Bahia, according to the player’s agent.
Sport Witness reported earlier this week that they had spoken to Ramires’ agent, Uéslei, who confirmed that Arsenal had been watching the player. He denied there had been any transfer talks, but that could all change come January and the winter window.
Since then, Bahia vice president Vitor Ferraz has spoken about the rumours, admitting Ramires is indeed being watched. However, he tried to play down the idea that the 18-year-old could be on the move in the near future.
Ramires has already made 12 appearances for the Bahia first team after turning 18 in August. He has two goals and three assists in those matches, including a goal in the last-16 of the Copa Sudamericana.
Ramires is strong at creating chances and taking set pieces, though currently lacking a bit in the air. That’s fairly common for young players though. It was worth Arsenal checking him out if nothing else and we’ll see if that comes to anything.