Having had a barren summer in the transfer market, Tottenham Hotspur could be looking to make amends at the end of the 2018/19 by lining up the absolute mother-load in the summer by sweeping in for want-away Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey is out of contract with the Gunners at the end of the season and has failed to reach an agreement in regards to an extension. This situation has left a host of top clubs prowling, with AC Milan previously the favoured destination by the bookies.
It is understood that an offer and a higher salary was tabled but then subsequently withdrawn by Arsenal.
Ramsey has recently responded with a strike and an assist in Arsenal’s emphatic win over Fulham, his celebration after a simply stunningly orchestrated goal punctually signalling a ‘pay me the big bucks and this is what you get’ message.
Now, as reported by HITC and TeamTalk, the Wales attacking midfielder might not have to travel as far as Italy when his contract expires, with Spurs apparently plotting a Sol Campbell type revenge move for the player who has made close to 350 appearances for Arsenal.
Ramsey wouldn’t even have to leave North London.
With context barely needed, Arsenal and Tottenham enjoy a fierce North London rivalry, fuelled by genuine hatred and disputes about location bragging rights. Arsenal were of course infamously founded in Woolwich, South-East London.
If the deal happens next summer - with Arsenal likely to refuse any bid from the club before then - Ramsey will become one of the only players, including Sol Campbell back in 2001, to cross the divide.
Spurs fans have never let the former England international - their ‘Judas’ - live it down since, but with Ramsey potentially arriving on a bosman should neither a new deal be rectified or a sale to another club forthcoming, the Lilywhites will gained their own one-upmanship. William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor are two other notable players to have worn both colours.
As a result, Gunners have taken to social media to express their understandable outrage at one of their star men leaving - for free! - to their fiercest rivals.
@fkhanage refused to believe it: ‘
Hahahahahahaha. Ramsey, Tottenham? Behave.
Whereas @VintageRambo went for the far more worrying,
“Just saying now if Ramsey moves to Tottenham I'll cut my ears off and eat them live
with @Cecvl concurring,
“Ramsey going to Tottenham will be worst experience of my life.”
@sbosblog offered a Spurs perspective by stating he,
‘Would take Aaron Ramsey on a free from them up the road in a heartbeat.’
and @boredkritz summed for the consequences of the deal,
‘God I hope Spurs sign Aaron Ramsey. Just for the heat the Arsenal fans will carry for life.’
For Spurs, it would be a remarkable acquisition aside from the backdrop of the rivalry, with Ramsey producing some stellar depth to a threadbare squad. Spurs’ talismanic midfielder Christian Eriksen is currently an uncertainty having been left out of the four previous match day squads for Spurs with an as yet undisclosed medical condition.
Arsenal, on the other hand, currently have the unbearable prospect of Spurs finally reaping a Campbell-esque revenge heading their way, should the Ramsey situation unable to be solved.
It never rains but it pours
