What Aaron Ramsdale's latest relegation means for Arsenal transfer windfall as reunion edges closer

have missed out on a £1 million cash windfall after Southampton were relegated from the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side sold to Saints last summer and there was a survival bonus included if the south coast club survived the drop this season.

Southampton would have needed to stump up £1m if they avoided relegation, but their top-flight fate was confirmed following a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday, reports the .

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Arsenal received an upfront fee of £18m by offloading Ramsdale to Southampton last August. He has since become the club's No.1 and returned to the England squad.

During his time at St Mary's, Ramsdale has kept just three clean sheets in 25 matches. He has conceded 56 goals in the process, with Saints boasting the worst defensive record in the Premier League.

Saints have seven top-flight games to go before they return to the Championship. Their final fixture is at home against Arsenal, meaning Ramsdale has another reunion to look forward to.

Ramsdale returned to the Emirates in October and was part of a rallying Saints side, who battled hard and kept it tight but eventually fell to a 3-1 defeat against Arteta's Arsenal.

The Gunners replaced Ramsdale by signing Neto on loan from Bournemouth. However, the Brazilian is not expected to remain at the Emirates beyond the end of the season.

Instead, Arteta's men are searching for a new goalkeeper to provide back-up and competition to David Raya. The Gunners have long-term interest in Joan Garcia of Espanyol.

They wanted to sign Garcia, 23, last summer but failed to get a deal done and he stayed in La Liga. Arsenal are anticipated to return for him, after failing to sign him a year ago.

Former Spain Under-21 international Garcia has admirers from several others, including Bayer Leverkusen, and Arsenal are set to face serious competition to lure him to north London.

Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza confirmed earlier this year that the club would be open to selling Garcia, who has a reported release clause of £21m inserted into his contract.

"In the final stretch of the transfer window, we have to ask for the release clause, but if a good offer comes in before then, we'll study it," Garagarza told Radio Marca.

"But the important thing is to know what we would do with that money. We have to work on the line of succession."