Revealed: The amount Sheffield United will REALLY pay to sign AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale

As this newspaper revealed last week, a sell-on clause inserted into the deal when the goalkeeper left South Yorkshire in 2017 entitled United to a discount on the £25m asking price the Championship club were demanding.

With another former United player - Wales international David Brooks - also expected to leave Dorset following Bournemouth’s relegation from the Premier League, Chris Wilder’s side have been able to further reduce Ramsdale’s valuation. It is likely, given the way transfer payments are now structured, that Bournemouth still owe United a chunk of the £12.5m they paid to acquire Brooks two years ago. If so, this will have enabled them to negotiate another deduction to Bournemouth’s asking price for Ramsdale.

Wilder moved for the youngster, who progressed through United’s youth system before being sold for around £1m, after growing frustrated by Manchester United’s stance during talks aimed at renewing Dean Henderson’s loan for a second time. Although coaching staff at Old Trafford wanted to extend their agreement with United, their football administration department are thought to have been demanding Wilder’s employers paid all of Henderson’s wages before processing the switch. With the former England under-21 international set to be offered an improved contract before the start of the new season, that could have cost United more than £6m in salary and facilitation fees - with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wilder’s counterpart in the North-West, making it plan they would not be allowed to recruit Henderson permanently.

Ramsdale, who has also been capped by his country at under-21 and youth level, is set to cost United less than double that amount when, barring any unforeseen complications, he puts pen to paper on a long-term contract next week.

Wilder will turn his attention towards discussions aimed at bringing Reading’s John Swift, Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash and Antonee Robinson of Wigan Athletic to United once Ramsdale’s purchase is completed.

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