Arsenal table first official bid for Brentford’s David Raya

Potential Premier League usurper Arsenal is looking to add further quality in depth into the senior side under Mikel Arteta after the Gunners have lodged a first official bid for Brentford's Spanish international keeper David Raya.

Per Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have dispatched a £20m+£3m bid across London toward Btech Stadium, with Raya having spoken to Brentford and declared his desire to move to the Emirates having already agreed to personal terms.

EXCL: Arsenal have submitted opening bid for David Raya to Brentford tonight. The proposal is worth £20m fixed fee plus £3m add-ons 🚨🔴⚪️ #AFC

Raya told Brentford that he wants the move as personal terms are already agreed. pic.twitter.com/PyEfro0tIu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 3, 2023

The 27-year-old Barcelona-born shot-stopper has been a key instrument in the tool shed for Bees boss Thomas Frank in the last four seasons after helping them not only achieve promotion into the Premier League but also become a European dark horse.

But questions from some sections of the Arsenal fanbase have emerged after Arsenal's first reported interest in the keeper on account of England international Aaron Ramsdale, as well as the first-choice keeper having recently signed a long-term extension with the club.

It certainly is not typical for a club, of any size, to have two recognized top-level keepers coexist long-term in the senior team, even if competition for places is at the core of the move.

With both Ramsdale and Raya in the international picture with Euro 2024 now less than twelve months away, some are of the opinion that a deal for Raya, a player that Arsenal wanted before they brought in Ramsdale, could spell a more uncertain future for the England man moving forward.

However, with Champions League football now on offer once again in North London, and two domestic cup competitions to contend with, it is certainly conceivable that one will be viewed as the league favorite, while the other will be given all three cup competitions across the 2023-24 campaign.

Brentford was last reported to want a fee in or around the £40m mark, and with Arsenal's first bid falling well short of the mark, this story is sure to have one or two twists and turns left before it reaches a conclusion.