ARSENAL are set to complete a permanent deal for Brentford loanee David Raya.
Raya joined the Gunners on loan from the Bees last summer with an option to buy this coming June.
However, the North Londoners are already planning ahead and are set to seal the goalkeeper’s future at the Emirates at the turn of the year.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, a deal to complete the Spain international’s move in 2024 is “all guaranteed”.
The Premier League giants will complete the switch by triggering the 28-year-old’s £27million release clause.
Raya has already penned a “potential long-term contract” with Arsenal that comes into effect in June.
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Brentford have also accepted the structure of the deal due to Financial Fair Play regulations.
This poses as a major boost for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who rates his fellow Spaniard very highly.
So much so that Arteta established Raya as his new No1 almost immediately after his arrival at the Emirates last summer.
The Spanish tactician has received plenty of criticism for his decision to omit Aaron Ramsdale as his starting keeper.
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A series of errors by Raya also fuelled protests from fans demanding the return of Ramsdale to the starting line-up.
However, Arteta doesn’t look set to budge any time soon now that the Spanish shot-stopper is ready to commit his future in North London.
That could force Ramsdale out of Arsenal as he will need consistent first-team football to seal an England call-up for the summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
