Brentford goalkeeper David Raya has reportedly agreed a deal to join Arsenal in the ongoing summer transfer window, according to a tweet from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Raya himself is thought to be keen on the idea of joining Arsenal. He and his agent have agreed to a contract, but Arsenal and Brentford have yet to come to terms regarding the player’s transfer price.
With Raya looking to leave the club, the Bees could be forced into letting the Spaniard go for a leaner amount than they may have hoped for – or risk having an unhappy player on their books.
In Romano’s tweet, he wrote: “Understand David Raya has reached an agreement in principle with Arsenal on personal terms. Brentford have been informed by player side that he wants to join Arsenal — and talks between clubs over formula/price are now expected to accelerate.”
Who else, besides Arsenal, are interested in a move for David Raya?
Raya was one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the Premier League last season – due to this, he attracted attention from some of the division’s biggest clubs.
Aside from Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have all registered an interest in Raya’s services over the last few months. Since then, United have opted to sign Andre Onana instead, effectively ruling them out of the race.
Originally, Spurs looked to be the favourites to snap up Raya, as they look to find a successor to Hugo Lloris. Since then, however, they have slowly fallen out of contention.
Chelsea could still pose a threat. They have swooped in at the final minute before, like when Arsenal were lined up to sign Mykhailo Mudryk – could it happen again?
Would David Raya be an upgrade over Aaron Ramsdale?
It’s difficult to say. Ramsdale patrolls and commands his area arguably more effectively, but Raya is the better shot-stopper of the two.
Should Raya join Arsenal, it’s likely that the two would be in direct competition for the number one shirt. Raya is far too talented to be marooned on the bench – but likewise, so is Ramsdale. As such, it can be expected that they will be frequently rotated.
