As a football team, Arsenal has already made their first summer transfer choice.London is aware that a permanent move to the Emirates Stadium is more a matter of when than if David Raya signs a contract.
Last summer, Raya signed a loan agreement with Brentford, with a £27 million buyout option. Following a rough beginning to his life in north London, Raya took over the top spot, displacing fan favorite Aaron Ramsdale.
With 16 shutouts, he had the most clean sheets of any goalie in the Premier League and was well deserving of that number one spot. He also played a pivotal role in the best defense in the league.
From the beginning, Raya’s loan move was intended to lead to a permanent agreement, as Mikel Arteta was very clear about what he wanted from the Spanish player.
When it came to permanently signing Raya, the Gunners manager seemed to put a spanner in the works. “Those discussions are for after the season; we will assess where we are,” he stated.
“It goes without saying that we are incredibly pleased with David and everything he has brought to the team and club, but we will discuss and make all of those decisions together as a team.”
Football.london is aware that those discussions will be constructive, though, and the club anticipates no problems as the £27 million deal closes when it’s supposed to.
Given how eager the England shot stopper is for more playing time, that might mean the end for Ramsdale in the red part of north London. Many teams have expressed interest, the most prominently being Newcastle United.
In the event that Ramsdale leaves, Arteta would have to search for a backup goalkeeper during the summer transfer window. Arsenal is anticipated to be very busy, searching for a new striker, defensive and midfield reinforcements, and possibly even a new goalkeeper.
