Arsenal: Sell Aaron Ramsey for all that he is worth

Aaron Ramsey is in the final year of his contract and is being strongly linked with a move to Juventus. Arsenal should sell him for all that he is worth, however little that may be.

Here we are again. Like clockwork, Arsenal have once more allowed the contract of one of their star players to dip into its final year. I remember when this palaver happened with Robin van Persie in the summer of 2012 — he would eventually sign for Manchester United in a cut-price deal and essentially win Sir Alex Ferguson his final, retiring league title.

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At the time, Paul Merson, a Highbury star in the 90s, stated that his contract was never allowed to reach even close to two years remaining. The club simply didn’t let it happen. Look how the times have changed.

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This time, it is Aaron Ramsey’s turn to hold the club over a barrel. And that is no slight to Ramsey. He is simply doing what is the best for his career, asking for a wage that he justifiably believes he is worthy of. Quite simply, Arsenal cannot afford Ramsey. They have told him that he can leave the club this year, likely to be at the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

But as the January transfer window looms, the Gunners are faced with their final opportunity to sell the Welshman for any semblance of value. They will obviously not reap the full rewards of a player of Ramsey’s quality. But they can at least scrape some money back, which is obviously better than the nothing that they will receive in the summer.

There have been growing suggestions that a January deal could take place, even though Arsenal have stated that Ramsey will most likely leave at the end of the season with Unai Emery still wanting him to play a key part in the run for Champions League qualification.

But here is the rub. The likelihood of Ramsey being the difference between a top-four finish or not is extremely slim. Halfway through the season, Arsenal are currently just outside the top four. They have 38 points. That is on pace for 76 points. In the last ten years of the Premier League, that points tally would qualify for the Champions League on eight occasions, draw with the fourth-placed team once, and finish outside the top four just once.

And Ramsey has not been a key part of the relative league success this season. He has made only seven starts, and was largely disappointing in most of them, especially earlier in the year, and has featured in just 684 minutes altogether. 15 players have played more league minutes than Ramsey this season.

Selling Ramsey, therefore, is not as costly as it may seem. Yes, he is a great player. Yes, I would like Arsenal to keep him. But the money a sale may bring, even if it is only £20 million, could be far more productive if invested in another position. Selling Ramsey for all he is worth, whatever the figure may be, is the right decision. Whether it will be possible, however, is another question altogether.