Arsenal could now battle Manchester United for the transfer of Columbus Crew star Patrick Schulte as the Gunners know Aaron Ramsdale is preparing to leave the club.
The north London giants are establishing plans to invest between the posts once more after signing David Raya last summer. Manager Mikel Arteta pushed through an initial loan swoop for the Spaniard, who has firmly emerged as Arsenal’s No1 since his transfer from Brentford.
Raya registered his 23rd Premier League appearance from a potential 26 matches as Arsenal drew at Manchester City on Sunday. He only required three games on the bench at Emirates Stadium to replace Ramsdale. Also, Raya has kept 10 clean sheets in his games under Arteta.
Arsenal know Aaron Ramsdale is preparing to leave Emirates Stadium
Now, the Daily Mail reports that Arsenal know Ramsdale is preparing to leave the club in the next transfer window. The 25-year-old does not want another season being second fiddle to Raya in north London. So, the England goalkeeper will assess his options during the summer.
Arsenal are reluctant to leave Arteta without a No2 shot-stopper, so are looking at Columbus Crew star Schulte as a potential replacement for Ramsdale. But Manchester United are one of a clutch of rival teams to also show an interest in the 23-year-old moving away from MLS.
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Schulte has only ever played in his native America to date. Columbus Crew also selected him with the 12th pick of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft after impressing with the Saint Louis Billikens men’s soccer team. The Missouri native later made his debut for the Crew in February 2023.
Arsenal and Manchester United eye Patrick Schulte of Columbus Crew
Arsenal and Manchester United are also showing interest in Schulte’s potential transfer after the one-cap USA international helped Columbus Crew win the 2023 MLS Cup. Boss Wilfried Nancy established Schulte as their No1 last year with 38 of his 45 senior appearances so far.
Schulte made 37 of those appearances in MLS, including the play-offs, for nine clean sheets. Nancy also praised Schulte’s exploits in the play-off quarter-final as the Crew took a 2-0 win after extra-time away to Orlando City after his crucial save to deny Kyle Smith whilst 1-0 up.
“I don’t like to talk about one player in particular but Pat has been outstanding,” Nancy said, via 90min. “He kept us in the game. I’m so happy for him because I remember many games that he was not happy about his performance and he did a good job.
“But he was not happy with that. All the time, he’s extremely demanding with himself to try to put the level up and the level up.”