Newcastle missed out on Aaron Ramsey two years before his Arsenal move

Newcastle missed out on a great opportunity to sign Aaron Ramsey whilst he was a teenager

Newcastle United have had little joy in the transfer market in recent seasons, restricted to loan signings and the Joe Kinnear sideshow. However it turns out that their transfer failures predated Kinnear, with reports suggesting that they passed up on the chance to sign Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey as a 15-year-old for a mere £500,000.

With the benefit of hindsight, the midfielder –of course – looks a snip at half a million, having become one of the division’s best central midfield players over the past 18 months.

However Newcastle pulled out of a deal to sign Ramsey aged 15, baulking at the fee required to prise him from former club Cardiff City.

The Express report that Ramsey, who scored the winner in Arsenal’s FA Cup final win, had been identified by the club’s Welsh scout Neil Bartholomew and that he and his parents had been flown to the north east on multiple occasions ahead of a potential move.

The move eventually fell through due to Newcastle’s reluctance to pay the required fee, with the Express’ Newcastle source ruing the deal’s collapse: “The annoying thing is that the young lad was keen to sign and it would only have cost £500,000. Look at what he must be worth now.

“Our Welsh scout Neil Bartholomew kept on raving about him. You can imagine how hurt he has been at the move not happening with Newcastle.”

Ramsey made 23 league appearances for Arsenal this season, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.