Wolves are trying to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal and have submitted a loan proposal with an option to buy the goalkeeper next summer. They face competition for Ramsdale and recognise Arsenal would prefer a sale this window. Ajax had a loan bid rejected last week and Southampton and Bournemouth are among those to have expressed an interest.

Ramsdale joined Bournemouth from then-League One Sheffield United in 2017, before re-joining the Blades in 2020. Ramsdale moved to Arsenal at the start of the 2021-22 summer and is keen to play at the highest possible level. The 26-year-old has won five England caps and has been a fixture in recent squads.

Wolves acknowledge it may be a difficult deal to complete because of the finances involved, with Ramsdale under contract until 2026. Arsenal are happy to sell Ramsdale with David Raya their first-choice goalkeeper after his permanent move from Brentford.

Arsenal attempted to sign Wolves’ backup goalkeeper, Dan Bentley, in this window to add a homegrown player to their squad, having a £50,000 offer rejected. Bentley was on the bench for Wolves’ 2-0 loss at the Emirates, with José Sá in goal.

Gary O’Neil last week said funds are tight despite the sales of Pedro Neto and Maximilian Kilman for £54m and £40m respectively. “The budget doesn’t seem too different to last season,” the Wolves head coach said. “The club is still not in a place where it’s able to go and free spend on things.”