Chelsea and Man Utd target David Raya’s transfer stance revealed by Fabrizio Romano

8 Mar 2023 17:55 GMT
2 min read

Chelsea and Manchester United are expected to battle it out for David Raya, with the goalkeeper set to depart Brentford this summer in search of a big move.

Raya is into the final 18 months of his contract with the Bees and has turned down two offers in recent months, according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.

Article continues under the video

The Spaniard has been integral to Brentford since joining the club in 2019, keeping eight clean sheets this season and being a focal point of their ‘pass out from defence’ playstyle.

PROFILE: Everything you need to know about David Raya

Raya, who received his first two caps for Spain last year, is considered a homegrown player after joining Blackburn as a teenager, further strengthening his appeal to Premier League sides.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank had previously stated that Raya would cost a similar amount to Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who became the world’s most expensive keeper in 2018 at £71.6 million.

However, Raya’s contractual situation means Brentford will likely consider cashing in on a cut-price deal, with Frank suggesting £40m as a starting point, indicating that the 27-year-old is set to leave the club in the summer.

Will Raya sign for Chelsea or United…or neither?

Both Chelsea and United were previously expected to pursue new goalkeepers this summer, with Raya, Diogo Costa of Porto and Everton’s Jordan Pickford among the names linked with moves.

But the situation could have changed for both teams, with Kepa slowly re-establishing himself as Chelsea’s number one, having previously been ousted by Edouard Mendy in the past two seasons.

OPTION: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk hints at who he wants to be Chelsea's number one

While Graham Potter has yet to decide whether Kepa will be the club’s long-term shot stopper but his impressive form in recent months has encouraged Chelsea to focus their budget on other positions and potentially look to extend the 28-year-old’s contract, which expires in 2025.

United, meanwhile, are still considering long-term replacements for David de Gea but the 31-year-old is set to sign a new deal on a reduced wage, having previously been out of contract this summer, albeit with an option to extend until next summer.

Erik ten Hag’s preference is to sign an elite striker, a midfielder and a defender before considering replacing De Gea, meaning Raya could be left without Chelsea or United as an option unless the situation changes.