ESPN: Aaron Ramsey to leave Arsenal for free in summer transfer window

Aaron Ramsey is prepared to stay at Arsenal until his contract runs out at the end of the season and resist any offers of a move during the January transfer window, sources have told ESPN FC.

That’s from Mark Ogden over at ESPN with his reporting that Ramsey is set to leave in the summer with Juventus and Bayern Munich the primary pursuers.

It should be noted of course that it’s still just January 7. Much is left to be decided even if this reporting is accurate. Persuasion is of course an art.

Still, it’s ominous. And perhaps disheartening. To see Ramsey exit without any kind of compensation would be a relative massive failure on behalf of the club. If we’re looking for a semblance of comfort, Arsenal were in a similar situation a year ago when Alexis Sánchez was perhaps set to exit in similar circumstances before a deal formed with Manchester United on a straight swap with Henrikh Mkhitaryan coming to the Emirates (increasing Arsenal’s wage budget in the process, but alas). So perhaps this is all just bluster from Ramsey’s representation angling for more leverage.

Ramsey has been with the club since 2008 when he transferred from Cardiff City as a young 17-year old starlet. If nothing else, we may well be watching Rambo’s final days as a Gunner.