Aaron Ramsdale has almost certainly played his last game for Arsenal and an agreement has been reached for the goalkeeper join Newcastle in the summer transfer window.
Ramsdale had seemingly nailed down his spot as Arsenal's number one following a £24million move from Sheffield United in 2021, making 78 appearances across his two opening two seasons in north London.
But David Raya's arrival on loan from Brentford raised questions over Ramsdale's future at the club and the England international has been limited to just six games in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta this term.
Raya is expected to join Arsenal on a permanent basis in the summer and widespread reports suggest the Gunners are ready to listen to offers for Ramsdale, who still has two years remaining on his current contract.
Chelsea are long-term admirers of Ramsdale and have been keeping close tabs on the situation, with Mauricio Pochettino alternating between Dorde Petrovic and Robert Sanchez in goal this season.
However, Newcastle have jumped to the front of the queue for Ramsdale's signature and Sky Sports' James Green claims the out-of-favour shot-stopper has agreed a deal over a proposed switch to St James' Park.
Speaking on Highbury Squad, he said: 'I understand and I found out directly from the player's agent that one of our players is off to Newcastle and a deal has been agreed.
'It's my understanding that Aaron Ramsdale has agreed to join Newcastle in the summer.
'That's come direct through speaking to somebody I'm very close with who is close with his agent and he says it's done.
'The deal is happening.'
Arteta's treatment of Ramsdale has divided Arsenal fans and Jens Lehmann, a member of Arsene Wenger's legendary Invincibles squad, has 'never understood' why the Englishman so rapidly dropped down the pecking order.
'I never ever understood the Ramsdale decision,' the former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper told The Daily Mail last month.
'If you have a good, brave English 'keeper at a big English club doing well and then you bring in a Spanish guy who has never played for a big club at that level - it just doesn't make sense.
'The 'keeper is the most important position in the team. If I were Ramsdale, I don't know how I would react because it's not easy at that age. When you're older, it's different.'
David Seaman, meanwhile, feels Ramsdale must move on from Arsenal for the good of his career, name-checking Chelsea and West Ham as possible escape routes for the 26-year-old.
'You aren't going to develop being a number two. You're going to get left behind in the pecking order because other goalkeepers will start playing,' he said on the Seaman Says podcast.
'As an Arsenal fan, I don't really want Aaron Ramsdale to go. But then as an ex-England goalkeeper, I want to see another keeper developing.
'When I'm looking at it, I think he could go to somewhere like Chelsea to give himself a better shot of getting first team action. I think there are a few clubs who he would suit, maybe someone like West Ham too.'
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