How much Southampton would save in wages if Aaron Ramsdale leaves | OneFootball

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been linked with a move to Italian side Torino this summer

Southampton head into the 2026/27 Championship campaign with a point to prove to the entire league following their now infamous 'Spygate' scandal, as German head coach Tonda Eckert prepares to make some big decisions on some key personnel.

Transfer business is beginning to heat up on the South Coast for Southampton, with Lewis Dobbin having joined the club for £9 million plus add-ons as their first new addition.

The loans of Cyle Larin, Daniel Peretz, and George Long have become permanent, but more are expected through the door at St Mary's sooner rather than later.

Numerous high-profile senior members of the squad have left the club following the expiry of their contracts, including Will Smallbone, Oriol Romeu, Joe Aribo, and Ross Stewart, whilst an array of loanees have returned to Hampshire, such as the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Yukinari Sugawara, and Aaron Ramsdale.

However, there is a growing expectation that Ramsdale, 28, will have no part to play for Southampton next season, with rumours of a move abroad having emerged, with the Saints keen to move their highest-paid player by some margin off the books.

How much Southampton will save in wages on Aaron Ramsdale if the goalkeeper completes Torino switch revealed

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Ramsdale joined Southampton from Arsenal in the summer of 2024 for a potential £25 million to become the Saints' first-choice goalkeeper, where he would spend one year between the sticks at St Mary's.

He conceded 66 goals in 30 Premier League appearances for Southampton, suffering the fourth relegation of his career in the process, having previously suffered a similar fate with the likes of Chesterfield, Bournemouth, and Sheffield United.

The five-capped England international was loaned out to Newcastle United last summer to compete with Nick Pope for a place in goal at St James' Park, but struggled to nail down a place in the side under Eddie Howe, making just 23 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies.

Newcastle paid a £4 million loan fee to Southampton for his services, but refused to sign him permanently, and now, upon his return to Staplewood, an exit is looking increasingly likely, with Italian side Torino reportedly interested in taking the Englishman abroad.

With Peretz more than likely to be Southampton's number one next year, Ramsdale is unlikely to want to stick around as a backup option, and given his £120k per week wages, as estimated by Capology, a departure seems like Saints' only choice.

At Arsenal, he was confirmed to be on that wage, and following his move to Southampton, it's likely that he agreed to a similar wage package, making him by far Saints' highest earner.

Under contract until the summer of 2028, assuming that Capology estimates are accurate, Ramsdale will earn close to £12.5 million, not including bonuses, should he reach the end of his contract at St Mary's.

Given Peretz's addition, Southampton cannot afford to keep Ramsdale around as a backup option on that sort of money, and Torino's interest will surely be welcomed with both arms.

Having largely struggled during his time in England, suffering numerous relegations and losing his place as first-choice at Arsenal, a move abroad to Torino, where he can follow in the footsteps of another former England international in Joe Hart, seems like the best-case scenario for everyone, especially Southampton, who will save a huge amount of money upon his departure.

Tonda Eckert must accept Torino's offer for Aaron Ramsdale to shift the Englishman's extortionate wages off the books

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With Southampton's pre-season well underway, head coach Eckert will be busy preparing and ideating what his squad may look like next season.

With Larin, Peretz, Long, and now Dobbin having signed on the dotted line, the German is stamping his authority on the Saints squad, despite a potential ban heading his way for his role in Southampton's spying debacle.

The returning loan players, including Ramsdale, will be assessed before a final decision is made on their future at the club, but in the goalkeeper's case, it seems a straightforward one.

Shifting his wages off the books ought to be one of Southampton's utmost priorities, and with Torino pushing to complete a deal, Saints must do everything they can to ensure it goes through.