Coventry City can pull off game-changing Aaron Ramsdale deal after source's update
Aaron Ramsdale could be an ideal January signing for Coventry City as he prepares to leave Southampton.
Coventry's dream return to the Premier League has not gone to plan in the first month of the campaign.
Frank Lampard's side are bottom of the top flight and without a point from their first four games of the season.
Their defensive woes have been a real cause for concern, even after the Sky Blues splashed out a club-record fee of £22million to sign Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth after his impressive loan spell last term.
Rushworth has been the worst-performing starting stopper in the league so far, with his performances clearly needing to improve if they are to stand any chance of staying up.
Southampton keeper Ramsdale will be available to sign in January, and Coventry may well look to him to save them if Rushworth's poor form continues in the coming months.
The 28-year-old, who made the PFA Team of the Year in his time at Arsenal, featured 23 times for Newcastle but returned to parent club Southampton in the summer.
He is not part of Tonda Eckert's plans at St Mary's, but failed to leave in the summer window, with sources now revealing to Football Insider that Ramsdale is set to leave Southampton in January as Premier League clubs eye his services.
He could be the ideal keeper to join Coventry in the new year, especially given his top-flight experience and stats compared to Rushworth.
Ramsdale's save percentage, expected goals prevented and successful pass rates per 90 in the PL at Newcastle all top Rushworth so far this term.
He also conceded fewer goals per 90 than Rushworth has, across 700 more minutes, showing that he would be definite upgrade on the 25-year-old despite his strong Championship showings at the CBS Arena.
Ramsdale certain to be available after Eckert's comments
The former Arsenal stopper has been relegated to being Southampton's fourth-choice, so it did come as a shock to see him stay at the club before the summer deadline passed.
Saints boss Eckert was open about his plans for Ramsdale following the end of the window in early September, saying: "The reality is that Rambo's story at the football club has started before I came in. We've had honest conversations from the very first day of pre-season to the last day of the transfer window and he's still a part of the group.
"The expectations for him are clear to support the team in the best way and he's been very professional in doing that so far. Let's see what happens. Aaron also became a father for the second time a couple of days ago. My expectation is that he remains a Southampton player."
He will surely not want to sit on the sidelines for the whole season, and may emerge as an option for the Sky Blues in the new year if their struggles continue.