Southampton FC now have a £25m problem Tonda Eckert cannot ignore | OneFootball

Aaron Ramsdale will continue to be left out of the Southampton squad, despite remaining at the club following the transfer deadline

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has explained that his commitment to Daniel Peretz and George Long will keep Aaron Ramsdale on the sidelines, despite the 28-year-old remaining at St Mary's past the transfer deadline.

Ramsdale arrived on the south coast two summers ago from Arsenal, with Southampton paying £25 million for his services as they looked to survive back in the Premier League after winning the play-offs the previous May.

The five-capped England international was unable to stop the Saints from sinking without a trace, though, and spent last season on loan at Newcastle United. He was unable to revive his career at St James' and only kept two clean sheets in 23 games in all competitions.

Newcastle opted not to exercise their option to buy the goalkeeper who was in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year just three years ago, and now he faces spending time in the reserves in a Championship side, with him evidently not part of Eckert's plans.

Tonda Eckert explains goalkeeper selection following deadline day non-move

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There were numerous players not in Tonda Eckert's plans who managed to finalise a move elsewhere in the dying embers of the transfer window.

Fellow goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made the switch to Bolton Wanderers, but no such move came for Ramsdale, who remained a Southampton player following the deadline.

Ramsdale has yet to make a matchday squad this season under Eckert, and the German head coach has stated that his goalkeeper pecking order won't change despite the 28-year-old remaining at the club past the deadline.

"We've had some long conversations, and for me it's important because I've made a clear commitment to Daniel [Peretz] as number one," Eckert said.

"That commitment stands, as it does with George [Long, Saints' number two]."

It's unclear what Ramsdale's next steps are in the Saints fold. The 28-year-old will still want to play regularly, but it seems he's the firm third choice under Eckert.

How Southampton fans have reacted to Tonda Eckert, Aaron Ramsdale admission

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While you can always credit a head coach who doesn't go back on his promises to players, some Southampton fans are hoping that Ramsdale at least emerges as the club's number two as the season goes on.

Not many Saints fans on X are calling for him to replace Peretz, but to at least take the place of Long, who has only made one appearance for the club since initially joining on loan last summer.

"No no no Ramsdale has to be back up now," one Saints fan said on X following Eckert's admission. "So so strange if Ramsdale isn’t leaving," another added.

"Still find this mental. Gotta be a massive financial implication if we play Ramsdale. Long has never played above Championship level; most of his career appearances have been in League One lmao," a third fan stated, while another felt that Peretz's level had dropped significantly because Long is the closest competition to him.

"George Long is not a number two; Peretz's levels have dropped in the last few games as he knows he won’t be challenged by Long," they said.

Tonda Eckert may be left questioning loyalty if Southampton's goalkeeper levels continue to drop

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While we are only four games into the campaign, and Southampton would be third in the Championship if not for their four-point deduction to begin the season, there have been some quiet concerns about the goalkeeping so far at St Mary's.

Peretz was unstoppable at times during his loan spell in the second half of last season, and was one of the main reasons why the Saints went 19 league games unbeaten to end the year.

To some, making his move from Bayern Munich permanent was one of the signings of the summer, but the 26-year-old has yet to replicate that level through the opening stages of this season.

Peretz currently sits 12th in save percentage in the division, and only Burnley's Max Weiss has prevented fewer goals in comparison to the expected goals he has faced thus far.

Southampton squad.