Aaron Ramsey is set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, and the Welsh international is sure to be wanted by a number of top Premier League clubs, who are all set to battle it out for his signature in the summer.
The 27-year-old moved to the Gunners from Cardiff City in 2008 in a deal worth a shade under £5m, but his time appears up at the Emirates Stadium with new Arsenal boss Unai Emery willing to let him go on a free transfer at the end of this season.
Now, speculation will ignite as to where Ramsey will play his football next season, but the one club that should adopt a prominent quest for his signature is Tottenham Hotspur, who would improve immeasurably with the arrival of the experienced midfielder.
Rohan Ricketts was only the fourth player in history to move from Arsenal to Spurs in 2002, so it would be a shock to some see Ramsey move between the north London clubs, but here's FOUR reasons why Ramsey's arrival would boost Spurs' squad.
1. Strengthen The Midfield Options
Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have been two integral figures of Tottenham's midfield over the last few seasons, but beyond that sparkling duo there's a midfield that can lack creativity and goals. Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama are often the pairing handed the job of shielding the defence, while Moussa Sissoko and Mousa Dembele are another two that can often struggle to provide the likes of Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-Min with notable service. Harry Winks is just settling into Mauricio Pochettino's first-team and is sure to improve over the next couple of years, but in Ramsey they would seal a ready-made Premier League talent, who can grab a goal, but also has the guile to provide better service to the attacking players in the team.
2. Ramsey's Stats Surpass Most Of Spurs' Midfielders
Delving into Ramsey's Premier League statistics it just outlines what a signing he would be for Spurs. In 244 appearances for Arsenal, Ramsey has scored 37 goals and provided 43 assists. Liken that to the aforementioned Dembele, who has scored only 12 goals and assisted 12 in 242 league games then that shows Ramsey would be a far better option for Pochettino than Dembele, who could be on his way out of the club in the near future. Wanyama has made 142 appearances. scoring nine and assisting three goals, while Dier has played 144 Premier League games, scoring eight and assisting six goals. Finally, Moussa Sissoko has played 181 games in the Premier League and has only scored 12, assisting 21 times.
3. Spurs Fans Could Be Open To Move
Football in the capital was rocked in 2001 when Sol Campbell made the unthinkable move from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal, and the former England international is still regarded a 'Judas' by most of the white side of north London. However, Ramsey's switch from the Gunners to Spurs could avoid the vitriolic responses Campbell gained 17 years ago with both parties understanding Ramsey's short move across the city. The Welshman has been a superb asset for Arsenal over the years and they would be happy to see him go with little fuss, while Spurs will ultimately be acquiring a top-class player, who is sure to strengthen their squad, so it's a win-win for both sets of fans.
4. He's Free!
We are all too aware of the ongoing fiasco with Spurs' new stadium, as they continue to play their games at Wembley Stadium, and are still holding out for a date to move to their plush new arena. However, as the weeks roll on Daniel Levy and the Spurs board are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for the delayed new home, and the longer the stadium debacle takes then the less money they are sure to have in the summer to spend on new signings. So, with Ramsey being available on a free transfer then the Lilywhites will be able to snap up a quality player for no money at all, and he will be a proven product to storm straight into the starting XI.
