Arsenal are expected to launch a surprise bid to sign David Raya after Brentford rejected a loan offer from Bayern Munich for the Spain goalkeeper.
The 27-year-old’s contract expires next summer and Brentford have set his asking price at about £40m after Raya made clear he did not want to extend his deal. Tottenham decided against pursuing a move for him earlier in the summer, but it is understood that Arsenal have now expressed an interest in signing Raya to compete with Aaron Ramsdale for a starting spot.
They are expected to submit a formal offer in an attempt to test Brentford’s resolve, with Raya believed to favour a move to north London over joining Bayern. The German champions are looking to provide cover for Manuel Neuer, who is still recovering after breaking his leg in a mid-season skiing accident, and had identified Raya as their primary target. But despite the Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer being expected to join Internazionale this week, Bayern’s offer to take Raya on loan was rejected by Brentford and negotiations are now on hold.
Raya continues to train with the Brentford squad on their pre-season tour of the US. In May they signed the Netherlands international Mark Flekken from Freiburg to be their new No 1.
“I think it’s natural that he would like to leave if it’s a good opportunity for him,” the manager, Thomas Frank, said of Raya. “We all think it’s a good idea at the right price.”
Frank said he has not decided whether Raya would be in the squad for the game against Aston Villa on Sunday. “He’s training hard and is good professional,” said Frank.
Meanwhile, Sadio Mané is poised to leave Bayern for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Mané, who joined the German champions last summer from Liverpool for £35m, is due to complete his medical in Dubai on Monday after agreeing a contract with Al-Nassr. Bayern revealed the 31‑year‑old had been left out of the friendly with Kawasaki Frontale in Tokyo on Saturday as he held contract talks before a possible transfer.
Mané signed a three year contract with the German champions but fell out of favour after punching his teammate Leroy Sané in the face in a dressing-room argument after the team’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in the Champions League. He will join the Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic and the Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana at the club which signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in December.
