Chelsea must HIJACK another Arsenal transfer

Tom Weber
Tom Weber
  • Updated: 2 Aug 2023 10:05 BST
  • 3 min read
Mikel Arteta, Mauricio Pochettino, Arsenal, Chelsea
© ProShots

Arsenal and Chelsea have locked horns in the transfer market on plenty of occasions and they should do so again to land David Raya, says former Premier League striker Darren Bent.

Chelsea famously hijacked Arsenal's move for then-Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk in January and they are now trying to sign Moises Caicedo who was also at one point desired by the Gunners.

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Both sides have done plenty of business so far in this transfer window, but both are still looking to potentially sign a new goalkeeper. Edouard Mendy has departed Stamford Bridge for Saudi Arabia and Kepa Arrizabalaga has never managed to live up to his record-breaking transfer fee.

READ: Chelsea complete signing that looked IMPOSSIBLE weeks ago, Romano reveals

Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking for competition for Aaron Ramsdale and they have reportedly agreed personal terms with wantaway Brentford shot-stopper David Raya. A deal is far from done, however, with the Bees already having put off several suitors with their ridiculous asking price and thus questions about the viability of this transfer remain.

Seeing that nothing is decided yet, Chelsea should swoop in, says former Tottenham man Darren Bent.

David Raya
© ProShots - David Raya

What did Bent say?

Speaking on talkSport, Bent said: "David Raya is better than Kepa Arrizabalaga, so why would Chelsea not go for him? And why would David Raya not think, 'hold on, why am I going to Arsenal to play behind Aaron Ramsdale? Why don’t I go to Chelsea and be their number one?'"

"There’s something not quite right with Arsenal’s deal for David Raya," claims Bent. "If I was Chelsea, I would be trying to get him." This sentiment was echoed by former Liverpool man Danny Murphy, who added: "The Arsenal thing, I’m really struggling with that. If you go and get him, what does it say to Aaron Ramsdale? Why do you need to pay £40m for a goalkeeper if you’re not going to start him?"

READ: Ajax target Chelsea's problem player

"And from the flip side," Murphy concluded, "if you’re David Raya, your next move has to be to a club where you’ll be number one. There’s no way he’s going to go somewhere and be happy with being the number two. The only way you get him in is if you say he’s starting."

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