Arsenal have submitted an opening offer worth £23m including add-ons for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.
Raya has entered the final season of his contract at Brentford and is keen to leave the Bees in search of a new challenge, with the Spanish shot-stopper having already agreed personal terms with Arsenal.
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Brentford have held firm in their £40m valuation of Raya to date despite the risk of losing the goalkeeper on a free transfer next summer, with both Manchester United and Tottenham having considered the 27-year-old earlier in the transfer window before moving on to alternatives.
Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that Arsenal have lodged a formal bid for Raya, worth an initial fixed fee of £20m and a further £3m in add-ons.
Arsenal want to sign Raya to provide competition and cover for first-choice Aaron Ramsdale, with current understudy Matt Turner attracting interest from Nottingham Forest.
The bid continues a significant spend from Arsenal as the club prepare to return to the Champions League, having already signed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber for combined fees in excess of £200m.
Brentford have prepared for Raya’s potential departure after signing Dutch international Mark Flekken from Freiburg for a fee of £11m.
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