As reported by The Daily Mail, Arsenal are preparing to sell midfielder Aaron Ramsey this summer in order to avoid the player leaving the club for free when his contract expires in 2019.

What's the story?

The Welsh international has made over 300 appearances for the Gunners, having spent almost 10 years at the club, but it appears his time as an Arsenal man could be coming to an end.

The Daily Mail report that Arsenal fear a situation similar to Alexis Sanchez's and Mesut Ozil's recent contract dramas and in order to avoid that have made the decision to let him leave the club at the end of the season.

The paper say that the club have already begun to identify replacements for the 27 year old.

Rated at £36m, according to Transfermarkt, the Gunners are unlikely to let him leave on the cheap given their strategy, so could he be a hit at one of the other big clubs in England?

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Still an elite player?

Like most players at Arsenal right now, Ramsey is having his difficulties, lacking confidence and failing to reach the heights that supporters expect from their first team stars.

Despite those problems, and injury issues, the fact remains that Ramsey has been one of the Gunners' more effective players this season, scoring six goals and creating eight assists in 19 Premier League appearances.

The move of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool last summer was an eye opener for many who had previously written of his ability to be a stand-out player for a top-four chasing side and perhaps Ramsey could find similar joy if one of England's big clubs come in for him in the summer.

He has the experience, football education and creative skills to enhance most squads in the division and if Arsenal are willing to let him go, he's likely to have plenty of suitors.