Arsenal have embarked on an aggressive recruitment drive this summer, but a move to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya would take it to another level.
Mikel Arteta wants competition to raise the level of his squad and the club’s transfer business has been geared towards achieving that.
Ben White now has serious competition from Jurrien Timber for his place at right-back. Thomas Partey is competing with Declan Rice in midfield. Emile Smith Rowe, handed the No10 shirt by Arsenal when he signed a new contract in 2021, has since seen the Gunners bring in Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard.
It is all about creating an environment where players must stay on their toes if they want to keep their spot in the team.
Signing Raya, though, would be a bold move by Arsenal and it feels like a move that could go either way.
Aaron Ramsdale has established himself as the No1 at Emirates Stadium and it was only in May that he signed a new long-term contract.
Ramsdale is knocking on the door to be England first-choice too, but the arrival of Raya would put his place at Arsenal under serious pressure.
Raya would not be moving to north London to sit on the bench and, even with Arsenal having more games due to being back in the Champions League this season, it is hard to envisage a world where both goalkeepers are happy.
There are very few, if any, teams who have two ‘No1s’ and Arsenal themselves know how difficult it can be to achieve such an aim.
When Emi Martinez broke into the team at the end of the 2019-20 season, there was a chance he and Bernd Leno could compete with each other the following campaign.
Martinez, however, only wanted to stay if he was the first-choice and within the space of a few months he was sold to Aston Villa for £20million.
Before that, Arsenal had Leno and Petr Cech both battling to be No1 during the 2018-19 season. The situation was solved when Cech retired that summer.
If Arsenal can find a way for Ramsdale and Raya to coexist then, of course, it would dramatically improve their squad.
Current back-up option Matt Turner is a solid goalkeeper, but there is a clear drop-off between him and Ramsdale.
Part of that is down to Ramsdale’s ability with the ball at his feet, something that is key to the way Arsenal play, and Raya would be able to replicate that.
It may be that Arsenal look at it from the point of view that signing Raya is a win-win situation.
Either the Spaniard arrives and drives Ramsdale onto big and better things, perhaps forcing Raya to leave after only a year or 18 months. Or, Raya arrives and overtakes Ramsdale, meaning Arsenal have upgraded on a position in their team.
Either way, it is bold and aggressive from Arteta and underlines his determination for the Gunners to win the Premier League.
Arsenal’s interest in the Brentford goalkeeper is nothing new.
Ramsdale has established himself as a key figure in the squad, both on and off the pitch, and the arrival of Raya would be a direct challenge to that.
Arsenal’s interest in the Brentford goalkeeper is nothing new. They wanted to sign him in 2020 when Martinez left, but could not strike a deal.
Raya was keen on the move then and he is thought to be now, as it would see him reunited with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.
Cana has had a huge influence on Raya’s career and played a big role in him leaving Blackburn for Brentford in 2019. But Brentford will not allow Raya to go cheap - even with one year left on his deal.
The Bees want £40million for the 27-year-old, citing how he was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League last season.
At that price, it is hard to see Raya accepting being Arsenal’s No2.
