Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to compete with Aaron Ramsdale for the No. 1 spot. Talks are currently taking place behind the scenes to discuss the next steps, including whether Arsenal will make a formal bid. Arsenal previously tried to sign Raya in the summer of 2020 but their offers were rejected. Brentford values Raya at £40m.
There is also a possibility that Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper Matt Turner may leave the club, as Nottingham Forest is in talks to sign him. However, there is a discrepancy in the valuation for Turner. On the other hand, Forest is also close to signing Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson on loan with an obligation to buy. Forest is actively looking to sign two goalkeepers in this transfer window.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted that they are willing to sell goalkeeper David Raya if the club’s valuation is met. Bayern Munich has opened talks with Brentford over a potential deal for Raya, but so far, they have not met Brentford’s expectations for a transfer. Raya has expressed his desire to take the next step in his career this summer. Frank has acknowledged that it’s an open secret that Brentford would like to sell Raya if the right opportunity arises.
Despite signing a new goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, to compete with Thomas Strakosha, Brentford is willing to keep Raya if their valuation is not met. Raya has attracted interest from Tottenham and Manchester United this summer, but those clubs have since signed other goalkeepers. Bayern Munich is still interested in Raya, but a proposed initial loan deal is not of interest to Brentford or Raya.
Arsenal’s long-term interest in Raya is primarily due to their goalkeeping coach, Inaka Cana, who previously worked with Raya at Brentford and played a significant role in bringing him to the club. Raya has spoken highly of Cana’s impact on his development as a goalkeeper. Cana and Arsenal believe that Raya’s passing ability and style of play align well with Mikel Arteta’s team.
Raya’s rise from non-league football to becoming one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers has been impressive. He faced the most shots, made the most saves, and completed the most passes among all top-flight goalkeepers last season. Arsenal and Brentford share a similar style of building up play from the back, which is why Raya is seen as a good fit for Arsenal.
The summer transfer window is currently ongoing, and you can stay updated with all the latest transfer news and rumors on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.
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