It’s being reported this afternoon that Arsenal and Brentford have agreed a deal for the transfer of David Raya.
The Gunners have been linked with the Barcelona born keeper for some time, but intensified their pursuit after Matt Turner became a target for Nottingham Forest.
A total fee of around £30m has been cited, an amount that would include all add-ons and clauses, similar to the £10m Arsenal can expect for Turner if all the conditions to his deal are met. That would leave a net £20m for Raya, a good fee for a keeper of his calibre.
It would change the dynamic at Arsenal, going from an established number 1 with an obvious number 2, to two keepers capable of starting in the Premier League and Champions League.
It’s going to mean a real fight between incumbent Aaron Ramsdale and the new man, but the England international sounded up for it when he spoke to ITV ahead of the Community Shield this weekend.
When asked about the possible arrival of Raya, he said, “Bring it on. Nothing comes easy in football. But also at the same time you need to move along and adapt as well.
“I’ve done it to other people when I’ve moved to clubs. I’m not going to be thinking that it’s never going to happen to me.
“So, yeah, I think if it happens, it happens and then we’ll fight and we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves because that’s what the manager is telling us as well.
“I’m sure whoever plays, me, Matt, whoever comes in, the goalkeeping union … people will laugh at but it’s a real thing … and your individual disappointment will go away and you’ll put the team first and you’ll put that goalkeeper first as well.”
Can’t fault that attitude, and let’s hope the team is the main beneficiary of this increased competition as two good goalkeepers make each other better.
