Aaron Ramsdale boasts 195 Premier League appearances next to his name, yet remains out of the first team fold at Southampton.
Tonda Eckert has remained loyal to Daniel Peretz, who he has regularly picked ever since he joined the building initially on loan from Bayern Munich in January, and for good reason as well, as he has ten clean sheets under his belt for the Saints.
There just doesn't seem to be a route back into the first team picture for the one-time Arsenal stopper, unless Peretz picks up an untimely injury, meaning the 28-year-old should really be on the lookout for a new club.
He decided against a summer move away from St. Mary's, though, so it remains to be seen whether he will be tempted to leave the South Coast this coming January, with the 6-foot-3 keeper recently becoming a father playing a big part in him not wanting to uproot.
Still, talk has emerged that he could be heading for the exit door, finally, when the transfer window reopens mid-season...
Ramsdale's future at Southampton
Football Insider is reporting that Ramsdale might be handed an exit route out of St. Mary's in January.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown has been speaking to the outlet, and he believes that several Premier League clubs will be keeping a close eye on the forgotten keeper as an option they could sign.
Stating that he would "represent a very good option" for a Premier League club in need of a new presence in between the sticks, with Ramsdale previously collecting 42 clean sheets in the difficult division, it remains to be seen if any top-flight outfit would be willing to gamble on a stopper who would undoubtedly be rusty.
Football Insider have even gone as far as tp suggest that Coventry City should look towards the Saints number 32, with Carl Rushworth struggling so far with the step-up to the Premier League.
Although, the Sky Blues might well steer clear of a move, with Ramsdale staggeringly having three top-flight relegations on his career CV.
Signing him, therefore, could be viewed as a death sentence.
He will eventually have to be moved on, as he will burning a significant hole in Southampton's finances as an expensive back-up.
But, he isn't causing trouble behind the scenes, by all accounts, when others in his shoes might have kicked up a fuss.
He can still play a role
Indeed, Eckert has come out to state that Ramsdale remains a supportive figure in the background, while Peretz keeps retaining the number one jersey.
The Israel international himself has also been vocal in his compliments for the ex-Newcastle United loanee, with the relationship between the two keepers noted as making "each other better."
Of course, it's nice to hear that the 28-year-old isn't being a disruptive influence, as he could easily have an inflated ego, considering his wealth of Premier League experience.
But, if he isn't playing regularly, it does feel a little pointless having him around, and if Brown's words come true that a team from the big time will likely come in for Ramsdale, a move should be signed off on quickly.
It goes without saying that Ramsdale has suffered from a serious fall from grace, having once been labelled as "exceptional" by Mikel Arteta during his Arsenal prime.
Now, he has been pushed to the reserves at a Championship club, and has become an accidental cheerleader behind the scenes.
For his sake, even if he did decline some summer moves, he needs to get his in limbo career back on track soon.
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