Southampton chance made clear as agent speaks out on £17m Aaron Ramsdale replacement

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When Southampton inserted a £25 million relegation clause in Aaron Ramsdale’s contract during negotiations with the former Arsenal goalkeeper, the Saints would have hoped it would not come into play.

And certainly not just ten months later.

Southampton may have to raise funds for Will Still as their new manager looks to reinvent the squad he inherits after the disastrous reign of Ivan Juric.

Fortunately, as Russell Martin eyes a Rangers reunion with Flynn Downes, as Crystal Palace target Mateus Fernandes and as West Ham step up their Aaron Ramsdale interest, St Mary’s is still home to plenty of sellable assets.

Determined not to be caught short in the goalkeeping department, the pre-season Championship favourites are leaving little to chance.

But the two glovesmen reportedly under consideration by Southampton as potential Ramsdale replacements – particularly Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson and Lazio’s Christos Mandas – are already starting to feel distinctly unattainable.

Agent of Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas plays down Southampton links

Southampton have watched Patterson in action for Sunderland. The former England Under-21 ace now appears certain to stay at his boyhood club, though, after Regis Le Bris inspired a stunning play-off final triumph over Sheffield United.

As for Mandas, Lazio’s reported £17 million asking price means he is very much on the expensive side.

What’s more, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, agent Diego Tavano confirms that the current plan is to stay in Rome and fight for the number one jersey with the Biancocelesti.

“It’s wonderful to see him in the national team. On Saturday, he played as a starter and even saved a penalty,” Tavano said after Mandas’ stellar display during Greece’s 4-1 friendly hammering of Slovakia.

“Lazio’s choice to trust a talent who was growing in Greece paid off. I’m happy. Today, we’re not thinking about the market. He’s consolidating his image.”

According to Rome-based publication Il Messaggero, both Southampton and Wolves had shown ‘concrete’ interest in Christos Mandas. The Piraeus-born 23-year-old appears likely to play a key role at Lazio next season, however, as Maurizio Sarri looks to make his shock return to the Stadio Olimpico a triumphant one in 2025/26.

Aaron Ramsdale tipped for West Ham by Darren Bent

As for Ramsdale, former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland striker Darren Bent believes a third relegation on his CV should not put West Ham off making a move for a man included in the Premier League’s PFA Team of the Year as recently as 2023.

“He was very good [at Arsenal]. I’m guessing the factor [why he left] was that Mikel Arteta had wanted David Raya for a long time, but it was harsh the way he lost his spot,” Bent tells talkSPORT.

“He needs to be playing in the Premier League. I know for a fact he is more than good enough to play in the Premier League.

“You’ve got [Alphonse] Areola, [Wes] Fotheringham, [Lukasz] Fabianski is 40 years old. Areola is 32. But I think ‘Rambo’ is better than all of those. So if he can get to West Ham…

“He was [relegated with] Sheffield United, Bournemouth and Southampton, but he was brilliant for Arsenal.”