Jacob Ramsey could leave Aston Villa this summer to boost his chances of regular game time
Aston Villa academy graduate Jacob Ramsey has reportedly expressed a desire to leave the West Midlands this summer in order to play regular first team football.
Football Insider explains that the 23-year-old has told those close to him that he’s ‘unhappy’ about his lack of game time after making just 19 league starts this season and only starting four of his side’s 10 games in the Champions League.
Ramsey has been at Villa since the age of six and has racked up 167 appearances for his hometown club, scoring 17 and contributing 19 assists while gaining experience in the Champions League, Europa Conference League and representing the Lions in an FA Cup semi-final.
However, he’s struggled to get in regularly due to the form of other midfield options such as John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Marco Asensio among others and is keen to relocate to get a regular run of first team football.
Why Everton could be the perfect move for Jacob Ramsey
As it stands, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are reported to the main contenders to sign Jacob Ramsey this summer. The Magpies are looking for reinforcements to help them go deep into the Champions League next season while Europa League winners Spurs find themselves in a similar situation despite a 17th placed finish in the league.
Both are believed to be long-term admirers of the 23-year-old but it’s hard to be certain if either of them would be able to guarantee Ramsey the regular run of games he’d be after at this moment in time. For example, Newcastle have Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes as their starting central options, with Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley often warming the bench.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall among others fighting for a starting role. A sensible solution for Ramsey could be a move to a club like Everton, who look to be moving in the right direction under David Moyes.
The former Man United boss is expected to be active in the transfer window following the confirmation of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s exit on a free transfer and it could make sense for Everton to use the situation to their advantage, with Ramsey being an upgrade to many of their existing options in terms of pace and athleticism.
How Everton could get their hands on Jacob Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey’s £50m price tag is likely to be out of Everton’s budget, meaning the club are likely to have to be creative if they are to get the midfielder on board next season.
As it stands, Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to leave Everton in the summer amid reports of speculation surrounding a move to Chelsea. But Aston Villa are another club that could benefit from his services as they aim to assemble a team that can once again qualify for the Champions League. Everton are seeking a figure of around £80m for the one-cap England international. A move to a higher Premier League club could further his chances of playing in the upcoming World Cup if he gets regular football at a Champions League side.
Therefore, Everton could ask for a £30m figure for Branthwaite from Villa, if they can get Ramsey moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal. It’s a move which could potentially fill a huge void in the squads of both clubs while also potentially boosting both players' international hopes and their PSR situation.
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