Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, has spoken out regarding the rumors linking their goalkeeper, David Raya, to Arsenal. The manager has allowed the transfer to happen.
Raya has attracted the attention of big clubs in the summer of 2023. Arsenal is not the first club to be linked as a potential new club for the Spanish national team goalkeeper.
Previously, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United were also interested in him. The three clubs had the same mission, which was to find a new first-choice goalkeeper.
As time went by, Tottenham and Manchester United have already secured new goalkeepers. Only Chelsea is still in the search, but they are not prioritizing Raya.
Frank explained to the media that Brentford was ready to sell Raya. The first-choice goalkeeper of The Bees was willing to be let go as long as the price was right.
The manager also doesn’t mind which club Raya will go to, even if it’s to another London-based club, Arsenal.
“I hope we get an offer. We are really looking forward to selling him,” he said as quoted from Evening Standard.
However, the problem is that selling Raya turned out to be not as easy as Frank thought. The asking price set by Brentford is not liked by many suitors.
“Raya wants to leave. For us, it’s not a problem. If there’s someone who wants to buy him, then they must make a suitable offer,” said Frank.
“I initially thought it would be that simple, but it seems very difficult, yes,” he added.
Arsenal’s decision to pursue Raya is surprising. The reason is that Arsenal is not like the other three clubs that lost their first-choice goalkeepers. The Gunners still have Aaron Ramsdale.
According to reports from The Athletic, Arsenal apparently wants to provide competition to Ramsdale for the position of the first-choice goalkeeper. Raya is considered to be able to provide that competition sensation.
Inter Milan is trying to finalize deals for Lazar Samardzic and will meet with Udinese this week to complete the deal, besides taking serious steps to recruit Folarin Balogun from Arsenal.
News circulated last week that Nerazzurri had agreed on deal terms with the Friulian team for the 21-year-old midfielder.
The Lombardy capital team is ready to pay 25 million euros plus young player Giovanni Fabbian.
Inter has acquired some key players this summer.
Marcus Thuram and Davide Frattesi have joined Simone Inzaghi’s squad.
Now, they are ready to complete other important business.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s Monday edition (July 31, 2023) details how Inter and Udinese have almost reached a total agreement about Samardzic, and only need to finalize some remaining details now.
Both clubs will meet in the coming days to try and agree on the valuation of Fabbian and the buy-back option that Nerazzurri will exercise.
Inter has agreed on personal terms with the former RB Leipzig midfielder, preparing a five-year contract worth about 2 million euros net per season including bonuses.
As for getting the Arsenal striker, Inter has decided to take serious steps for Folarin Balogun and has begun planning a new offer, according to reports.
Apart from working to reach an agreement with Lazar Samardzic from Udinese, Nerazzurri also wants to strengthen the attacking third of the field.
Inter is still looking for a new central striker following their decision to move away from Lukaku, and two players are especially at the top of their list – Balogun and Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport via TMW, Inter cannot meet Arsenal’s asking price of 40-50 million euros for Balogun.
Therefore, they plan to propose a loan deal with a €35 million obligation to buy clause attached, including bonuses.
Another idea is Gianluca Scamacca from West Ham, who is also wanted by AS Roma.
The Italian striker will be cheaper and more accessible than his counterpart at Arsenal.
