Southampton must replace Aaron Ramsdale with ‘top’ Championship goalkeeper amid West Ham interest
Aaron Ramsdale is the subject of interest from Premier League West Ham United after Southampton’s relegation.
After the Saints suffered a record-breaking relegation from the Premier League this season, Will Still was appointed by Southampton after he left RC Lens for St Mary’s.
Amid the summer transfer window, Still’s start on the South coast has been concerned with potential departures, as Southampton face a battle to keep hold of Shea Charles amid Leeds United’s interest.
Also, former Saints boss Russell Martin wants to sign Flynn Downes as part of his Rangers rebuild, and it appears he is wasting no time in looking at Southampton stars who could follow him to Rangers.
One Saints star who looks destined to depart the now-Championship club this summer is Aaron Ramsdale amid West Ham’s interest in the goalkeeper.
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Viktor Johansson could be perfect Aaron Ramsdale replacement for Southampton
Southampton are facing a £100m wage problem this summer due to their wage bill from last season, and as such, EFL Analysis’ football finance expert Adam Williams has revealed that the Saints “are going to sell players again this summer.”
Also, given that Ramsdale tops the highest-paid players list for the 2025/26 Championship currently, the Southampton hierarchy could be looking to shift the England international off the balance sheet this summer.
Ramsdale is likely to be sold by Southampton this summer, and recent reports from TBR Football have seen West Ham United register with interest in the shot-stopper, as Graham Potter targets fellow Championship duo Hayden Hackney and Sydie Peck this summer.
With his sale likely at some point in the summer transfer window, Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson would be an impressive replacement for the Englishman.
Despite the Potters suffering a relegation-threatened campaign, the Swedish shot-stopper was the shining light at Stoke, and without Johansson’s exploits between the sticks, the club would certainly have been in a perilous position when it came to League One relegation.
| Key statistic | Viktor Johansson in 24/25 Championship | Aaron Ramsdale in 24/25 Premier League |
| Games | 46 | 30 |
| Clean sheets | 14 | 3 |
| Goals conceded | 62 | 66 |
In 24/25, Johansson kept 14 clean sheets from 46 league outings, cementing himself as one of the best keepers in the league after concluding the campaign with the joint-fourth highest shut-out rate.
Contrasting that with Ramsdale, who kept just three clean sheets in 30 Premier League matches, although admittedly in a league with a higher calibre of attacking opponents.
A keeper of Johansson’s quality warrants playing for a second tier side chasing promotion, not fearing relegation, and Stoke boss Mark Robins has sung the praises of the Swede throughout this season.
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Mark Robins has already told Southampton why they should sign Viktor Johansson
Johansson’s stats from his first season at Stoke since his switch from Rotherham are impressive, especially considering how disappointing his teammates in front of him were this season.
The 26-year-old made 152 saves, prevented 11 goals directly and saved a quarter of his penalties faced throughout the campaign to solidify himself as one of the best players in the Championship.
Stoke owe a great deal of credit to Johansson for their second tier survival, and Potters boss Robins has already told Southampton what calibre of keeper they could sign as Ramsdale’s potential replacement.
After Stoke’s 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in which Johansson impressed, as per StokeLive, Robins said: “Fantastic saves. The one where he’s dived to his left and it’s in, but he’s got there and clawed it out. I thought it was really good.
“His handling was good, his communication was good as usual, his kicking was really decent. His kicking was generally pretty good.
“He’s a top goalkeeper. He’s a top kid, a top goalkeeper, and I’m delighted we’ve got him.”
Johansson’s current Stoke deal expires in the summer of 2027, and given his estimated £6.7 million transfer value, the financials favour Southampton’s ability to make a swoop for the Swede, if they part ways with one of their biggest assets in Ramsdale this summer.
