'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A new era is well underway at Arsenal, with the club and its fans now fully settled into life under Unai Emery. Emery has brought organization and structure to what was naive and fragile Arsenal as seen by many. The Spaniard is now looking to bolster the central midfield options as well as the entire backline.
One area which continues to prove a stumbling block for the Gunners, however, is their inability to deal with contract situations and retain their most prized assets. Robin Van Persie, Alexis Sanchez, and Samir Nasri all left with a year or less to go before their contract expired; a shocking revelation given the individual contributions of each of those players during their spells in North London.
A fourth name is likely to join that list in the form of Welsh international and former Cardiff midfielder Aaron Ramsey, with the club withdrawing the chance to renew the midfielder's contract. The 27-year-old's early days were blighted by injury, with the leg-break against Stoke leaving him out of action for a full season. The midfielder blossomed as the years went by and firmly established himself as a key player in the Arsenal setup. His tally of seven goal and eight assists in the Premier League last season represented a marked improvement on the seasons prior to the 2017/18 campaign.
Europe's biggest clubs will relish the opportunity to sign the former Cardiff man on a free transfer or for a much-reduced fee. Here are three clubs who might acquire the Welshman's services over the coming year:
Chelsea
The Blues have gotten off to a remarkable start under Maurizio Sarri, with the Italian winning five of his opening six Premier League games in charge. Chelsea's attacking style looks to have given players such as Eden Hazard, Willian, and Pedro the freedom to go after defenses without the preoccupation of protecting their own backline. This would suit Aaron Ramsey perfectly given his tendency to make runs into the box and venture forward from deep in midfield, which sometimes leaves Arsenal exposed.
Chelsea, however, has one of the best defensive midfielders in Ngolo Kante who often wins the ball back from the opposition to help release the Chelsea forwards. Freeing Aaron Ramsey off some of the defensive responsibilities could help the Blues make the most of his technical ability. The acquisitions of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic from Napoli and Real Madrid respectively have bolstered the Blues' midfield, making it both combative and creative at the same time.
The signing of Aaron Ramsey would represent a notable upgrade on the likes of Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley who have failed contribute much since their transfers from Leicester and Everton respectively.
Manchester United
Jose Mourinho's tenure at Manchester United looks to have taken a nasty turn, with the Portuguese manager having trouble once again during his third season at a club. One of Jose's greatest headaches is United's record signing Paul Pogba, who criticised the manager's tactics by calling for a more attacking mindset. This ongoing conflict between two of the Red Devil's most important figures could ultimately cause United to part ways with the former Juventus midfielder who came to the club for a world-record fee of £89 million.
Aaron Ramsey's reputation and brand do not carry nearly the same weight as that of Paul Pogba which could prove favorable for Manchester United. Ramsey is more likely to follow Mourinho's demands than Pogba, with the Welshman possibly possessing more discipline and brings less off the field drama than the French World Cup winner. Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have also described how special Mourinho has made them feel, giving them additional confidence before stepping on to the pitch.
Mourinho will surely demand funds from the board in January to revive and revitalize the squad, with the current Arsenal midfielder being prime candidates to reinforce Manchester United's midfield. The acquisition of another one of the Gunners' most valuable assets could lift the mood amongst the United faithful and give an impetus for the rest of the squad.
Bayern MunichAaron Ramsey could find that his best option lies elsewhere in the continent, with other clubs in Europe also looking to sign the former Cardiff man. Clubs outside the Premier League have the option to reach a pre-contract agreement in January and eventually agree on the contractual details during the summer to officially sign the player.
The Arsenal fans would, therefore, be made clear of Ramsey's future and they could then expect a fully committed Aaron Ramsey before a transfer to Germany. It would be difficult, however, for the Arsenal board to accept los
ing one of their key assets without any money available for a replacement. The midfielder will turn 28 this year and is heading into the prime years of his career, which could make a move abroad very appealing.
Bayern Munich are also in need of a midfielder given Arturo Vidal's transfer to Barcelona and Sebastian Rudy's sale to last season's runners-up Schalke this summer, even though they have Thiago, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, and Renato Sanches. Ramsey may not expect to walk straight into the starting eleven but could definitely add quality.
