Aston Villa are all set to battle it out with Tottenham Hotspur for the services of Brentford shot-stopper David Raya.
According to Rudy Galetti via GIVEMESPORT, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on having David Raya in their ranks. The 27-year-old shot-stopper is expected to part ways with Brentford in the summer and there are quite a few clubs keen on having him in their ranks.
The Spain international has been one of the best goalkeepers in the ongoing Premier League season. He has featured in 38 league matches and has kept a clean sheet on 12 occasions. The Brentford keeper has made over 150 saves this season. No other keeper in England has more saves to his name.
The 27-year-old’s contract at Brentford runs until the summer of 2024. And, he has already rejected multiple contract extension offers over the past year or so.
Raya said: “I turned down two contracts, one last year and one this January. They weren’t the offers we were looking for. I can only say that.”
The Bees are keen on having him in their ranks next season but it seems he is eager to part ways with the club. The Spain international recently rejected another extension offer. And, even his manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that the 27-year-old is up for sale after refusing to sign a new deal.
Frank said: “You all know the price — £40m — and absolutely it’s realistic.”
With the exit door wide open, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on having him in their ranks. Emiliano Martínez who has been Villa’s number one for a while now could be on the move in the summer. If the World Cup winner ends up leaving, they will need a new goalkeeper and have their eyes set on Raya.
Galetti said: “Despite the attempts of Brentford to convince him to stay by renewing his contract, David Raya, in all likelihood, will leave them in June. The English club are already targeting [Mark] Flekken for the next season. Raya is followed by some Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa.”
Unai Emery is keen on having Martinez at his disposal next season. But, if he fails to convince the Argentine to stay, Emery wants to add a world-class replacement and Raya perfectly fits the bill.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are also on the look for a new goalkeeper. They have decided that it is time to move on from Hugo Lloris who has been their number one for years. The French shot-stopper has struggled with injuries in the ongoing season and his performances have been on the decline.
As a result, Spurs want to sign a new number one ahead of next season. They have their eyes on the Spain international, David Raya. The Bees shot-stopper has been putting in some impressive performances over the past year and he could surely fill in the big boots for Lloris.
With Raya available for £40 million, it will be interesting to see who ends up winning the race for his services.
