Arsenal Eyeing Brentford's David Raya as Potential Rival for Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal eye Brentford's David Raya as a potential goalkeeper addition, vying with Bayern Munich Raya's contract nears expiration, while Nottingham Forest targets Matt Turner and edges closer to signing Man Utd's Dean Henderson Stay updated on the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
Arsenal is considering the recruitment of David Raya, the goalkeeper from Brentford, as competition for the No 1 position with Aaron Ramsdale. Discussions are currently taking place in private to determine the next course of action, including the possibility of submitting an official offer by Arsenal.
Arsenal made unsuccessful attempts to secure Raya's signature during the summer of 2020, as Brentford turned down several offers for the Spanish goalkeeper, valuing him at £40m.
In addition, Arsenal might face the departure of reserve goalkeeper Matt Turner, as Nottingham Forest is currently engaged in discussions regarding his potential transfer. Preliminary indications suggest a disparity in valuation for the 29-year-old player.
Forest are also nearing a deal to acquire the services of Dean Henderson, the Manchester United goalkeeper. Discussions are ongoing for a loan transaction with an obligation to purchase. It is known that Forest are actively seeking to secure the signings of two goalkeepers in this particular transfer window.
In recent days, Bayern Munich initiated negotiations with Brentford for shot-stopper Raya. However, they have not met the transfer demands set by the English club at this point.
Raya has one year remaining on his Brentford contract and has expressed his readiness to take the next career leap this summer.
On Saturday, Thomas Frank acknowledged that it was a widely acknowledged fact that Brentford intends to sell Raya.
He added, "If it presents a favorable opportunity for him, I believe it's only natural for him to want to depart. We all concur that it's a wise decision if the price is right."
Nonetheless, despite acquiring another goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, to rival Thomas Strakosha, Brentford is ready to retain three exceptional goalkeepers, unless they receive an offer that meets their valuation for Raya.
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David Raya joined Brentford in the summer of 2019 after being sought after by Tottenham and Manchester United, who eventually signed Guglielmo Vicario and Andre Onana, respectively.
The given additions have created an opportunity for Bayern, as they are seeking to find a replacement for Yann Sommer who is currently in discussions with Inter Milan.
While Raya joined the Brentford squad for the Premier League Summer Series in the USA, Thomas Frank opted for Flekken in the matches against Fulham and Brighton.
The 27-year-old joined the Bees from Blackburn in the summer of 2019 and has made 161 appearances in all competitions.
Why are Arsenal interested in Raya?
Manchester City's scouting department has identified Raya as a player with immense potential.Cana was previously the goalkeeping coach at Brentford and played a major part in Raya signing for the Bees from Blackburn in the summer of 2019.
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Born in Barcelona, both Cana and Raya share a connection that dates back to their time with Cornella, a smaller team in the city. Cana has consistently praised Raya, particularly during Arsenal's renewed interest in him in 2021.
"He has been tremendously helpful," Raya stated. "His demeanor completely transforms on the field, displaying immense dedication and resilience. I firmly believe that any goalkeeper who has trained with him will echo these sentiments.
"The knowledge and skills acquired from him are profound; he constantly keeps you alert and never allows you to slack off. He demands maximum effort in every single drill, settling for nothing less than 110 percent. Falling short at 80 percent is simply out of the question; it's an unattainable feat."
Despite Cana moving to Arsenal in December 2019 after only six months of working closely together, the pair are known to have maintained their friendship. Cana and Arsenal believe that Raya is a suitable fit for Mikel Arteta's team, particularly due to his skill in passing and playing from the back.
Bayern Munich maintains their interest in Raya despite not yet fulfilling Brentford's transfer expectations. The Bees, who value Raya at £40m, have disregarded Bayern's initial loan proposal. Additionally, Raya's remaining year on his contract discourages his interest in such an arrangement.
