David Raya’s agent gives behind-the-scenes lowdown on Arsenal transfer and Aaron Ramsdale won’t be happy
DAVID RAYA’s agent has revealed Arsenal’s Financial Fair Play “issues” prevented the club from signing the goalkeeper permanently this summer.
The Arsenal keeper is currently on loan from Brentford, with Arsenal paying a £3million loan fee with a £27million option to buy at the end of the season.
Agent Jaume Munell says that Arsenal had to fend off interest from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in order to secure his client’s services.
And in bad news for Aaron Ramsdale, Munell says that Arsenal’s interest in the keeper predates Aaron Ramsdale’s £30million signing from Sheffield United in 2021.
Munell told AFTV that Arsenal only signed Ramsdale because he was an “easy option” compared to the complexities of signing Raya from Brentford at the time.
He said: “Arsenal showed interest for the first time three years ago in 2021. They tried to buy him but Brentford didn’t want to sell him at any price.
“After they bought Ramsdale that was an easier option but David has always been the priority.
“This summer, he had just one year left on his contract with Brentford and Arsenal was the club that showed the most concrete interest and have always been our priority.
“Tottenham were also interested and made an official bid but it was refused because was lower than the £34.9m that Brentford wanted to sell him, also Bayern Munich was interested and had an amazing offer but with no buy option included and for this reason, we’ve not accepted it.
“Bayern Munich didn’t understand our refusal because they thought that Raya would have been the backup keeper at Arsenal but as you can see it’s not like this. Also Manchester United and Chelsea made an inquiry but nothing concrete.”
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Munell said that part of Arsenal’s long-term interest in Raya stems from their goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana.
Cana worked with Raya at Brentford before making the switch to North London to join The Gunners.
And he has sung the praises of Raya to the club’s hierarchy ever since.
The interview will not make for pretty reading for Aaron Ramsdale, who may leave the club in January.
Past reports have linked him with a move to Chelsea, with the Gunners wanting £60million for the keeper.