Arsenal have agreed a fee with Southampton for the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

According to a report from Sky Sports, the two clubs have settled on a fixed fee of £18 million for Ramsdale, with the potential for the total sum to rise to £25 million if performance-related add-ons are met and the Saints stay in the Premier League (£1m).

Negotiations between Arsenal and Southampton are still ongoing to finalise the remaining aspects of the deal, but there is optimism on all sides that the transfer will be completed.

The deal is seen as positive for both clubs, with Southampton eager to strengthen their goalkeeping options.

Ramsdale, who has been Arsenal’s No. 2 since David Raya took over the starting position last summer, has been seeking more regular playing time, admitting that he does not want to spend another season sitting on the bench.

His desire for more minutes has made the move to Southampton an appealing option, especially after Wolves were priced out of a potential deal for the goalkeeper.

Wolves had initially been in the running to sign Ramsdale but turned their attention to Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone after the overall package for Ramsdale was deemed too expensive.

Earlier this week, BBC reporter Nick Mashiter broke the news that Wolves had pulled out of the race for Ramsdale, confirming that the West Midlands club considered the deal too costly.

Mashiter’s report was soon followed by updates from other sources, including Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed that Southampton and Arsenal were advancing well in their negotiations.

Both clubs remain optimistic that the deal will be finalised in the coming days before the window shuts at 11pm on Friday.

TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook and CBS Sports’ James Benge also reported that Southampton had emerged as the front-runners for Ramsdale’s signature after Wolves’ withdrawal.

Crook noted that Southampton manager Russell Martin is a big fan of Ramsdale, and both Crook and Benge indicated that Arsenal might prefer a loan deal with an obligation to buy if a straight sale could not be agreed upon.

Ed Aarons of The Guardian added further context, suggesting that Southampton initially explored a loan deal with an option to buy, despite Arsenal’s preference for an obligation.

But it is a permanent deal that has now been agreed, which is what Arsenal wanted.

Southampton’s interest in Ramsdale intensified after they pulled out of a move for Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow.

The move comes at a pivotal time for Ramsdale, who is eager to re-establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper after losing his starting spot at Arsenal and making just 11 appearances last season.

With the potential to secure a significant transfer fee and allow Ramsdale to pursue more consistent playing time, this deal could be a win-win for both clubs as the transfer window edges closer to its conclusion.

Arsenal are expected to try to sign Espanyol’s Joan Garcia as a replacement with personal terms said to have been agreed.