ARSENAL BOOK INTUITIVE WONDERKID IN FOR MEDICAL AFTER REACHING FULL AGREEMENT

 

Tommy Setford’s style of play is based on ‘intuition’ (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have reportedly booked ‘intuitive’ Ajax star Tommy Setford in for medical tests after the Gunners reached a full agreement for the youngster.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper, who has played in England’s youth ranks, is set to become Mikel Arteta’s new third choice option and will sign a four-year deal.

Arsenal have agreed a fee with Dutch club Ajax worth around €1 million (£869,000) and he will now complete a medical, according to fresh reports.

Setford, who has bags of potential and seems set for a massive future in football, has previously explained how he bases his style of play on ‘intuition’.

‘Charlie is a very different goalkeeper than I am,’ Setford told the Ajax website in December when quizzed about his brother, who also plays for the Eredivisie side.

‘We have similarities, of course, but he plays much more calculated. On the other hand, I play more based on intuition.

‘Nevertheless, I often make the right choice when I’m in goal. It’s not like we analyse each other’s matches at home. We acknowledge when the other has played well, but that’s all.’

Arsenal have already made a number of goalkeeping changes ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, as they once again look to push Manchester City for the title.

The north Londoners have completed a permanent deal for No.1 ‘keeper David Raya from Brentford on a long-term contract after his season-long loan.

No.2 ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale, meanwhile, has been deemed surplus to requirements and has attracted interest from Newcastle United and Southampton.

Legendary Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman has urged Ramsdale to leave the Emirates and find himself a new club.

‘I’ve always said Aaron is too good to be a number two,’ Seaman said. ‘He’s a fantastic player. He needs to play. Wherever that is, I don’t know.

‘It’s a weird situation. Ideally, you’d love him to stay because that would be great for the club.

‘But he needs to move for his career. And that includes England because, if he’s not playing, he’ll keep dropping down the pecking order with them.’

- Liam Grace