Bayern Munich are confident that they have secured Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer, according to reports in the English media.
The German club have signed a number of players at the end of their contracts over their years, including Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka last summer.
It now seems that the Bundesliga giants are favourites to land Ramsey, and Gunners fans on Twitter had mixed reactions to the story:
I’m OK with this.
— Gaz (@GazRoberts1) 15 November 2018
I hate Bayern but I’m pleased for him and I certify this deal. He deserves it.
— ÀlàbíAdé (@YorubaAngel) 15 November 2018
Better bayern than Man Utd, Chelsea or Man City
— Indian gooner (@Jaishan16531737) 15 November 2018
Suppose it’s better than him going to another English team
— James (@scarbs11) 15 November 2018
Sell him in January
— Sync (@uparsenal99) 15 November 2018
makes a lot of sense tbh, although thought they weren’t allowed to negotiate with clubs until January?
— Ryan Hunn (@badgoalryry) 15 November 2018
FOR FREE? What a disaster. Arsenal are still a joke of a club.
— Emperor William IVX (@c9charlie) 15 November 2018
Bit odd. I guess he’s comfortable being a bench player there, expected him to go to a spot where he’d star
— treize khushrenada (@projectksl) 15 November 2018
Could live with that
— Bobby Axelrod (@RJAGrant) 15 November 2018
But we could have swapped him for coman or some good player
— Chubany Republic (@ChubanyRepublic) 15 November 2018
Arsene potentially going to Bayern! Would make perfect sense!
— Benn (@Benn1078) 15 November 2018
I think most supporters would have expected Arsenal to sell the Wales international for a cut-price deal during the January transfer window, but if a foreign side have already made their move, it is very much out of the London club’s hands.
Teams are not officially allowed to speak to players directly until the last six months of their contract, but communication with agents is not prohibited.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus and AC Milan have also been linked with Ramsey, but Bayern may have had this transfer in the works for a while, and it would go a long way to explaining why the Gunners withdrew their contract offer to the player.