Arsenal are now in advanced talks to sign Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Our colleagues at football.london report that the Gunners are looking to broker a deal to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates after coming up short with previous offers.
United, relegated from the Premier League last season, are thought to want a fee of around £30million for Ramsdale.
But it is understood Arsenal are not prepared to go that high initially, and instead aim to pay out a fee of around £24m. The deal is likely to include various add-ons.
Mikel Arteta, the Gunners' boss, has made it clear he wants to recruit another stopper to compete with regular number one Bernd Leno.
Mat Ryan arrived on loan as back-up in the second half of last season but he has now gone, whilst Alex Runarsson's future is uncertain after a proposed loan move away from London fell through last month.
Ramsdale is in his second spell at Bramall Lane, after rejoining them last summer for a fee of £18.5m from Bournemouth.
Despite a shaky start to the 2020-21 campaign, Ramsdale's form improved considerably and he was named United's player of the year but his individual performances couldn't prevent his club from surrendering their top flight status.
Ramsdale started United's first league game of the season last Saturday - the 1-0 loss at home to Birmingham - but was absent from the matchday squad for Tuesday night's EFL Cup win over Carlisle.
He was present in the ground, watching on as his colleagues recorded a 1-0 win.
United boss Slavisa Jokanovic denied Ramsdale's omission had anything to do with an imminent transfer.
“There is nothing in his absence, no, nothing,” Jokanovic said.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are also looking to lure Ramsdale's Blades colleague Sander Berge too.
They remain admirers of the Norwegian midfielder and have been keen in the past.
United will be keen to keep hold of Berge, who has also been interesting Everton, but are bracing themselves about having to sell big players after being relegated last season.
Berge, 23, is more of a box-to-box player than the creative force that Arsenal are looking for but so far have had no joy with Leicester’s James Maddison while they are watching developments on Real Madrid’s Martin Odegaard who was on loan at the Emirates last season.
The transfer window closes on Tuesday, August 31 at 11pm.
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