Chelsea have been told to hijack another Arsenal transfer as Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino look bolster their options between the sticks.
Darren Bent has explained why David Raya should snub Arsenal in favour of a transfer to Chelsea. The 27-year-old goalkeeper has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his options between the sticks despite having signed Aaron Ramsdale just two years ago.
Raya, who sees his contract at Brentford expire in 12 months, featured 38 times for Thomas Frank’s side in the Premier League last season, keeping 12 clean sheets. His impressive performances have ɾєρօɾτedly courted the interest of some top clubs across Europe, and the Bees appear to be preparing for his eventual departure.
The Spain international,who has recently turned down two contract offers from Brentford, has been given thegreen light to leave by the club’s technical directorand Arsenal seem keen to capitalise on his uncertain future in west London. According to theEvening Standard, the Gunners have agreed personal terms with Raya ahead of a potential move.
The ɾєρօɾτ states that he’s keen to join Arsenal and the north Londoners are ready to begin talks with the Bees. It’s said that Tottenham and Bayern Munich both walked away from negotiations for Raya earlier this summer over his £40million asking price.
While the Gunners may beat their arch-rivals to a top player, Bent has questioned why Arteta wants to sign the Spaniard, who’d be better off at Chelsea. Speaking ontalkSPORT, the former Spurs and Aston Villa striker said: “David Raya is better than Kepa Arrizabalaga.
“So why would Chelsea not go for him? And why would David Raya not think, ‘hold on, why am I going to Arsenal to play behind Aaron Ramsdale? Why don’t I go to Chelsea and be their number one?’
“There’s something not quite right with Arsenal’s Ԁєɑł for David Raya. If I was Chelsea, I would be trying to get him,” added Bent. Danny Murphy chipped in and, singing from the same hymn sheet, he claimed that Arsenal could ɑƈƈιԀєɴτally sєɴԀ Ramsdale the wrong мєȿȿɑɢє.
“The Arsenal thing, I’m really struggling with that,” said the former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder. “If you go and get him, what does it say to Aaron Ramsdale? Why do you need to pay £40m for a goalkeeper if you’re not going to start him?
“And from the flip side, if you’re David Raya, your next move has to be to a club where you’ll be number one. There’s no way he’s going to go somewhere and be happy with being the No. 2. The only way you get him in is if you say he’s starting.”
If Todd Boehly – and Raya – were to heed the advice of Bent then Chelsea would throw another spanner in the works, just as they did in January by snatching Mykhailo Mudryk from Arsenal’s grasp.
