Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal are closer than ever to the signing of David Raya, and the deal could now be done within 24 to 48 hours.
Arsenal and Brentford are set to hold further talks on the deal today, with negotiations advancing to the final stages.
The Daily Mail report that one complication on Brentford’s end is a sell-on clause in Raya’s contract from his transfer from Blackburn Rovers back in 2019.
That clause is likely to push them to ask for more money, as they know they’re sending a percentage of it on to the Championship side.
Arsenal had made an opening £20m bid for Raya, with an additional £3m in add-ons.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that the offer would be turned down, but it was only slightly below what Brentford were looking for, and all parties are hoping the deal gets done.
The Telegraph then reported that the move was progressing quickly, with the player making clear his desire to join Arsenal.
As recently as this week, Bayern Munich were still attempting to convince Raya to move to Germany on loan. Brentford were even reportedly open to the possibility, as long as the goalkeeper extended his contract with them first.
But Raya himself pushed to join Arsenal on a permanent basis instead, seemingly killing the Bayern transfer.
Arsenal have been juggling the Raya deal with Matt Turner’s departure to Nottingham Forest, with Ornstein writing that the former may depend on the latter.
But with Turner now on the verge of completing his move to Forest, it doesn’t look like that will hold up the Raya transfer.
