Arsenal must swoop for £10m Spaniard ahead of Pep Guardiola in case Leeds-linked ace goes – TBR View

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Arsenal and Manchester City are reportedly eyeing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya with a view to a summer move, according to 90min.

Gunners goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana Pavon is said to have highlighted the 24-year-old as a top target Mikel Arteta wish to strengthen in between the sticks.

However, Man City are also reportedly interested in the £10million-rated ace, with Pep Guardiola apparently seeking a replacement for the departing Claudio Bravo.

Raya joined Brentford from Blackburn last summer, with Pavon having worked with him at Griffin Park after playing a big role in his switch from Lancashire to London.

The Spanish stopper has played in each of Brentford’s 46 Championship games this season, keeping a joint league-high 16 clean sheets and conceding just 38 goals.

Even though Arsenal may not look like they need to bolster their goalkeeping ranks, Raya is still a player who should be given serious consideration by the Gunners.

His record in the Championship this year has been superb, and at just 24, he’s very young for a goalkeeper and has the potential to get even better – he’s destined for great things.

Raya reportedly comes with a personal recommendation from Arteta’s goalkeeping coach, who has worked with him before and knows him well, so that bodes well as far as a target is concerned.

Now, his reported £10million price tag does seem a bit steep for a player who, at present, would probably be third choice behind Bernd Leno and Emiliano Martinez.

However, if Martinez – who has been linked with Leeds United – decides he wants to move on in search of first-team football next season instead of returning to be Leno’s deputy, then selling him would enable that money to be reinvested in Raya.

Much rests on whether Brentford get promoted via the playoffs – if they do, then Raya will get the chance to play in the Premier League, but if they don’t, then Arsenal should look to swoop ahead of Guardiola.