Aaron Ramsey's time at Juventus could soon be coming to an abrupt end.
The Welshman has made 12 starts under new boss Maurizio Sarri this term and has not had the impact he would have hoped for in a debut season hampered by injuries.
It is claimed by The Mail that the Serie A giants are prepared to offload Ramsey just a year after signing him on a three-year deal after the midfielder ran down his contract at Arsenal.
The report states Ramsey earns £400,000 per-week in wages which has become a problem amid the financial crisis during the coronavirus pandemic.
As one of Juventus’ highest earners, Ramsey is said to be at risk of being listed for sale in an attempt to cut their colossal wage bill.
The 60-cap Wales international’s future now appears in doubt just as he was starting to feel at home in Turin.
We looked at four possible transfer destinations for Ramsey if he turn out to be one of the players scarified as Juventus look to balance their books this summer.
Manchester United
Unsurprisingly, United have been linked with Ramsey since reports emerged over a possible departure.
It was well documented that the Old Trafford club came very close to signing Ramsey as a 17-year-old in 2008, before he was eventually swayed by to Arsenal by Arsene Wenger.
United could yet rekindle their interest 12 years on as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to bolster his midfield options this summer.
Dynamic Ramsey would be able offer United something different with his flair and exuberance in the middle.
But the signing would be atypical of United given Solskjaer’s current recruitment approach of acquiring young, promising talent.
At 29, Ramsey is not a player the Norwegian can build his team around in the long-term and he would not be a cost-effective option either given his substantial wages.
Arsenal
A return to the North London club where Ramsey spent 11 defining years is not unfeasible.
Ramsey still holds Arsenal close to his heart and the Emirates would likely be his preferred destination if given a choice of Premier League clubs.
New boss Mikel Arteta needs to prioritise signing proven midfielders this summer and Ramsey could slot straight into the deep-lying playmaker role in the Spaniard’s 4-2-3-1 assemble.
Ramsey could be attracted by Arteta’s philosophy and become a leader at his old club where he is still adored by most sections of the fanbase.
But again, it would seem inconceivable for Arsenal to stump up anywhere near the wages Ramsey earns in Turin. A loan deal would be more likely initially where Juventus pay at least some of his salary.
Paris Saint-Germain
As one of European football’s superpowers, PSG are one of a select few clubs that would be able to match the financial package Ramsey is reportedly on at Juventus.
The Ligue 1 champions could be tempted to add the Welshman to their abundance of midfield quality that already includes Marco Verratti and ex-Everton star Idrissa Gueye.
Ramsey would offer attacking proficiency as well as a high defensive work-rate in his preferred box-to-box role in Thomas Tuchel’s 4-3-3 system.
Moving to the French capital would allow Ramsey a second chance to shine on the continent, and the prospect of playing Champions League football with two of European football’s elite stars in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe would surely be alluring.
However, Ramsey has proven time and time again that he thrives most when given a significant run of games. In Paris, he could suffer from the lack of regular minutes that he has experienced at Juventus due to the wealth of competition for places.
Newcastle United
Newcastle have been tentatively linked with a surprise switch for Ramsey which could be plausible if their controversial Saudi takeover is completed.
The North East club’s prospective new owners, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, are still awaiting Premier League approval but would be expected to spend big if their buyout from the unpopular Mike Ashley is sanctioned.
And they could immediately flex their embarrassment of riches by targeting the marquee signing of one of the most acclaimed available midfielders across Europe.
Ramsey was totemic in Wales’ magical European Championships run four years ago and could be given the platform to rediscover that form as one of the main men at St James’ Park ahead of next summer’s delayed tournament.
An ambitious project on Tyneside might be an attractive proposition for Ramsey if an enticing offer was made.
