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Arsenal receive major boost as Mikel Arteta target ready to hand in transfer request
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is closing in on another transfer target.
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Arsenal have received a boost in their bid to sign David Raya as a backup for Bernd Leno, as the Brentford star is ready to hand in a transfer request in order to force a move. The Spanish goalkeeper’s agent told SPORT that they will do whatever it takes to take the star to the Emirates.
Arsenal are set to swap backup goalkeepers in the coming few weeks.
Emiliano Martinez is set to depart after the club reluctantly allowed him to leave.
Aston Villa are ready to pay £20million for the Argentine, with Dean Smith keen to bring in a new first-choice for next season.
Arsenal have Raya as their first choice as his replacement, but are finding it tough to get the Championship side to sell.
The Bees have already sold Ollie Watkins for £28m this summer, and are determined to keep the team together as much as possible.
As a result, they are reluctant to let Raya leave and have already rejected a £10m bid.
The 24-year-old hasn’t featured for Brentford recently and was left out of the squad entirely for last weekend’s Carabao Cup tie against Wycombe.
He isn’t expected to be involved against Birmingham as Thomas Frank’s side get their league campaign underway.
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Raya has only been at Arsenal for one season, having signed from Blackburn last summer.
He is under contract until 2023, and Brentford are unwilling to let him leave any time soon.
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The Spaniard had a solid debut season for the beaten play-off finalists, but ended his season with a howler against Fulham in the final.
Arsenal’s interest in Raya is no surprise, as they hired Brentford goalkeeping coach Inaka Cana earlier this summer.
The goalkeeping coach has reportedly been telling Mikel Arteta of Raya’s talents, and was a driving force in Brentford’s move to sign him last summer from Blackburn.
Arsenal reportedly want to offer Raya a long-term contract if they are able to agree terms with the Bees.
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