Arsenal: New signing tipped to ruthlessly replace Arteta favourite in shock development, setting up 2024 exit
Aaron Ramsdale hugs Martin Odegaard after Arsenal victory
A new Arsenal signing has been backed to oust one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players this season, and it could leave the Gunners star looking for a transfer in summer 2024.
Arsenal have completed three big signings this summer. They have spent £65million to sign forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea, smashed their transfer record by paying West Ham a whopping £105m for midfielder Declan Rice and landed defender Jurrien Timber in a £38.5m deal from Ajax.
Arteta is hoping those new arrivals will help Arsenal get the better of Manchester City in the 2023-24 Premier League title race – though he is not stopping there.
On Sunday, Arsenal burst into the race for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya. Bayern had been hoping to land Raya, who will be on the move this summer after refusing to negotiate a new Bees deal.
But the German giants could not convince the shot-stopper on the move, and this has seen Arsenal put themselves in pole position for a deal of their own.
As per the latest from Fabrizio Romano, Raya ‘prefers’ an Arsenal switch over potentially joining Bayern. The Gunners have now entered talks with the player’s camp as they look to sort out personal terms.
READ MORE: Arsenal deal with Prem rival agreed; personal terms ‘shouldn’t be an issue’
Arsenal have discovered they will have to match Brentford’s £40m asking price to sign the Spain international, but this is unlikely to be a problem.
Writing in his CaughtOffside column, pundit Stan Collymore has surprisingly tipped Raya to end up replacing Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal starting eleven, leaving the Englishman wondering where his future lies.
David Raya will have huge impact at Arsenal, says pundit
‘I really like the thought of Arsenal signing Brentford’s David Raya. I have been really critical of the Gunners under Mikel Arteta before but this is a decision I really like,’ Collymore wrote.
‘Aaron Ramsdale did really well last season, especially during the first half of the campaign, but you never want your keeper to become too comfortable in that position. You always want to keep them on their toes and provide as much quality competition as you can, and there is no doubt that Raya would do exactly that.
‘I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the Spaniard went to Arsenal, kept Ramsdale out of the team and then, in a year’s time, we are talking about the Englishman facing an uncertain future at the Emirates.
‘Declan Rice, after signing from West Ham earlier in the window, will add a lot to Arsenal, but will he make them automatic title contenders? – No, not in my opinion. And, although I can’t say Raya will, I do believe the Brentford keeper will have a greater overall impact than the £105m midfielder.’
It will be very interesting to see how Raya gets on at Arsenal, should the transfer reach completion. It would come as a surprise to some if he did manage to replace Ramsdale and leave the latter stuck warming the bench.
Although, Raya has proven himself to be one of the top keepers in the Prem in recent seasons with Brentford, so it is clear he will push Ramsdale all the way.
