Arsenal in Talks with David Raya’s Representatives over Personal Terms
Arsenal has reportedly opened talks with the representatives of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya regarding personal terms. However, Brentford remains firm on their £40 million valuation of the player and is unwilling to negotiate a lower price. The Gunners are keen to secure Raya as high-quality cover and competition for their current number one goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.
Raya, who has only one year left on his contract, has attracted interest from several clubs this summer, including Tottenham and Bayern Munich. However, Brentford has made it clear that they will only consider selling Raya if their asking price is met. This stance led Tottenham to sign Guglielmo Vicario for a significantly lower fee instead.
Despite Brentford’s firm stance, Arsenal continues to pursue the Spanish goalkeeper. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have already held talks with Raya’s camp. Arsenal aims to finalize personal terms and a salary agreement before proceeding with negotiations with Brentford. It is anticipated that there will be no issues from Raya’s side, as he is keen to move to the Emirates and prefers to stay in London rather than join Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich, who are currently attempting to secure a club-record deal for Harry Kane, has only offered a loan deal for Raya without a mandatory buy clause. Brentford is currently unwilling to consider such an offer, although their stance may change if Raya agrees to sign a contract extension before going out on loan.
At present, Arsenal appears to be in pole position to sign Raya. However, it will require an offer in the region of £40 million to convince Brentford to sell. Manager Thomas Frank reiterated this position on Sunday, stating that Raya is worth the asking price and highlighting the inflated transfer fees for players with only one year left on their contracts.
Interestingly, Arsenal had previously attempted to sign Raya a few years ago before opting for Ramsdale instead. The club’s goalkeeper coach, Inaki Cana, has previously worked with Raya at Brentford, which may have influenced Arsenal’s renewed interest in the player.
In conclusion, Arsenal is actively pursuing a deal for David Raya and has entered into talks with his representatives regarding personal terms. However, Brentford remains steadfast in their £40 million valuation of the goalkeeper. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will meet the asking price or if negotiations will continue.