Arsenal have agreed a deal worth around £30million with Brentford for goalkeeper David Raya.
The 27-year-old Spaniard will provide competition for the Gunners’ current No1 Aaron Ramsdale, who signed a new contract in May.
Arsenal have pushed ahead with a move for Raya after agreeing to sell their No2 goalkeeper, Matt Turner, to Nottingham Forest in a deal that could be worth up to £10m.
Personal terms are in place with Raya and he is set to sign a long-term contract with the Gunners.
Ramsdale has said he will relish the competition for his starting spot and believes it will make him a better goalkeeper.
“Bring it on,” he told ITV Sport when asked about Raya’s expected arrival. “Nothing comes easy in football, but you need to move along and need to adapt as well yourself.
“I’ve done it to other people when I’ve moved to clubs, so I’m not going to be thinking that it’s never going to happen to me.
“If it happens, it happens. We’ll fight and we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves. That’s what the manager is telling us as well.
“I’m sure whoever plays, me, Matt [Turner], whoever comes in... the goalkeeper union, people will laugh at it but it’s a real thing. Your individual disappointment will go away and you put the team first and you put that goalkeeper first.”
Raya’s arrival would take Arsenal’s spending to about the £230m mark and they are looking to sell players before the transfer window shuts.
They have rejected a bid from Monaco for striker Folarin Balogun and the French club are weighing up whether to return with a new offer. Arsenal want £50m for the USA international, who is also a target for Inter Milan.
Left-back Kieran Tierney is another player attracting interest. Spanish side Real Sociedad want to sign him on loan, while Aston Villa and Newcastle are also keeping tabs on his situation.
Young midfielder Charlie Patino may leave on loan, with a view to finding a permanent move next summer.
