Steven Gerrard has heaped praise upon Arsenal transfer target Jacob Ramsey ahead of the Gunners' clash with Aston Villa on Saturday. Ramsey has been linked with a move for the Gunners in recent months, and could prove the ideal signing to solve Mikel Arteta’s midfield problems.
Amidst the club’s search for a new No.8, two current midfielders could potentially be leaving in the summer, with Mohamed Elneny out-of-contract and Granit Xhaka still heavily linked with a move to Roma. The 20-year-old Ramsey has had a breakthrough season with Villa, with seven goal involvements in 26 league appearances.
This includes a thunderous strike from outside the box against Arsenal in Villa’s 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season. Under Gerrard, Ramsey has really taken off as a player and the Villa manager has highlighted what makes the young Englishman so good.
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Speaking to BT Sport, Gerrard said: "I knew he was a good player when I come in. I'd seen the finish against Arsenal where he's curled it in the top corner but in terms of consistency on a daily basis and someone who's striving to improve and get better, he's been the standout.
"He's scored six Premier League goals now, but I know he wants more. I spoke to him about his numbers when we first come in, and the position he's playing for us in the team.
"He's got license to run forward with or without the ball, he's someone who likes to drive and play and take it up to people but he's been an absolute pleasure to deal with. Very humble and he's a real excitement for not just for Villa but for England as well."
All these qualities mentioned by Gerrard suggest that Ramsey really is the real deal and could fit perfectly into Arteta’s project to form a young and exciting Arsenal team. But whether or not he’d want to move from Villa Park to the Emirates Stadium is unclear.
Ramsey is valued at just £13.5million by Transfermarkt, but Villa will no doubt seek much more than that when the transfer window opens and clubs inevitably come calling. But for now, attention turns to Saturday’s game, where Arsenal’s defenders will have to be at their best to stop their potential new teammate.
