Southampton prognosis bleak for Bazunu after Ramsdale swoop

Gavin Bazunu was the Southampton number one but may struggle for minutes with the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal

Southampton’s capture of Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal in a permanent deal worth about £25m, including add-ons, appears to spell bad news for Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

The former Shamrock Rovers custodian (22) is currently sidelined with a serious Achilles rupture, sustained in April during the Saints' successful march to promotion.

Although his club manager Russell Martin publicly defended the Dubliner amidst criticism during their relegation from the Premier League, he has recruited a stopper arriving on the expectation of starting every game following a barren spell.

Should Bazunu be demoted to deputy when he returns around Christmas, it would damage his prospects of regaining the Ireland No 1 spot from Caoimhín Kelleher, himself an understudy at Liverpool.

Ramsdale is undergoing a medical and Saints will pay an initial £18m for the England goalkeeper, plus a further £1m if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. The rest of the financial package covers incentives.

Southampton have been trying to bolster their goalkeeping options, with a move for Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow collapsing at the medical stage. Arsenal had wanted about £30m for the goalkeeper, who is backup to David Raya, with Wolves walking away from a deal but a compromise has been reached with Saints.

Ramsdale, who spent three years at Bournemouth after joining from Sheffield United in 2017, is poised to return to the south coast on a long‑term contract. Bournemouth were also interested in the 26‑year‑old but instead moved to sign the out‑of‑favour Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Stoke-born Ramsdale was at Wembley in fancy dress for Southampton’s Championship playoff final win over Leeds in May, dressed as Hagrid from the Harry Potter films, to support close friend and then Saints winger David Brooks, who has returned to parent club Bournemouth.

“Any time one of our friends get to Wembley we do fancy dress, it’s something we’ve done and we’ve won three times from it so we’re not gonna break from tradition now,” Ramsdale said, explaining his appearance.

Ramsdale’s expected departure could trigger Arsenal’s move for the Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García.