Arsenal chief Edu told dangerous commitment needed to seal David Raya transfer

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Liverpool hero Danny Murphy has told Arsenal that they will need to make David Raya their new No 1 if Edu is to lure him away from Brentford. Such a commitment would send shockwaves throughout the Gunners’ fanbase, with starting goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale one of the more popular members of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Ramsdale has been a smash hit since signing from Sheffield United in 2021. The 25-year-old is a big voice in the Arsenal dressing room and a menacing presence between the sticks, with his spot presumed safe for the upcoming season.

It therefore came as a surprise when Arsenal entered the running to sign Raya, who could become the Londoners’ fourth signing of the summer. The Brentford goalkeeper has only one year remaining on his contract, and Express Sport understands that he is intent on leaving the Gtech Community Stadium this summer.

With a hefty £40million asking price, Murphy has questioned why Edu would go after a goalkeeper of Raya’s calibre when they already have a perfectly good stopper in net.

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“I’m really struggling with that,” Murphy told talkSPORT. “If you go and get him, what does it say to Ramsdale about what Arteta thinks of him? Why would you need to pay £40m for a keeper if you’re not going to start him?

“And on the flip side, for Raya, your next move has to be to a club where you’re No 1. Maybe the game has changed but I don’t see a goalkeeper like that telling a manager that he’ll come and be second choice. The only way you’re getting him through the door is to tell him that he’s starting.”

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Committing to Raya as the Gunners’ starting goalkeeper would risk upsetting the dressing room, the fans and Ramsdale himself. The England international played in every Premier League game last season as Arteta’s side came up agonisingly short in the title race against Manchester City.

It remains to be seen whether Raya would be enticed by a move to the Emirates Stadium if first-team minutes were not guaranteed. Bayern Munich have also held talks with the Spaniard, and Brentford boss Thomas Frank is keen to see the saga come to an end.

“It is an open secret we want to sell him for the right amount,” admitted the Dane. “He has been training hard, a good professional. He has been a top I can’t praise him enough.

“Incredibly good in terms of being a top pro, training well and really, really good and positive. I think it’s natural that he would like to leave if it’s a good opportunity for him. We all think it’s a good idea at the right price.”

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