Southampton owner Dragan Solak says Aaron Ramsdale will likely leave the Saints this summer, as Leeds United continue to weigh up their goalkeeper transfer options.
A new shot-stopper is thought to be one of the priorities for Leeds in the market, along with a marquee striker. Ramsdale seems an unlikely port of call given the three relegations on his CV but Solak’s admission opens the door for an approach should Leeds wish to sound out the England international.
As relayed by the Daily Echo, Solak said: “We unfortunately are not sure that Ramsdale is going to stay, even though he loves the club. He’s a great young man, everybody loves him, but he wants to get his place in the national team and it’s not easy to get there in the Championship.
“He’s even personally looking at all the options of how he would go and come back if we are promoted because he loves the place and he loves the club. But generally we understand that he needs to stay within the Premier League level of football to achieve his goals and we will not stop that.”
After capture of Lukas Nmecha and the imminent arrival of Jaka Bijol, Leeds are not close to acquiring their third signing of the summer at the present time, Leeds Live understands. There is a growing anticipation that Illan Meslier could leave given his losing of the number one jersey.
Those within the 49ers regime have noted the pros and cons of Meslier’s appeal in the transfer market, being keen to underline his two Championship title successes and 42 clean sheets in two seasons but also acknowledging his high-profile errors.
With United battling a lower £61million three-year loss threshold, the club will be needing to create financial headspace to bring in new signings by offloading current players.
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Meslier would bring in more cash than the 34-year-old Karl Darlow, who edged ahead of Meslier in the pecking order in the final weeks of the season and would likely be more willing to sit on the bench.
This would also be the final summer in which to get a fee for Meslier, whose contract runs out next June - with the same applying for Darlow and third choice Alex Cairns.
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