Manchester United could hijack David Raya transfer with latest offer despite Tottenham leading the chase
It’s no longer news that Tottenham Hotspur, are in the running for the Brentford goalkeeper but are hesitant to pay the asking price of £40 million.
Even though Tottenham are now winning the race to recruit the Brentford goalkeeper, Manchester United is still interested and making Raya a potential replacement for David de Gea if contract talk goes down the drain in coming weeks.
Spurs are in a strong position to sign the Spaniard in time for the upcoming season.
But there is little hope that a deal will be reached soon because the north London club is unwilling to pay the £40 million sum that Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has publicly asked.
Spurs’ hesitancy might give United the opportunity to move later in the window. United is prioritizing the acquisition of players for the attack and midfield, but Erik ten Hag also wants to bolster his team by bringing in a goalkeeper who is more at ease with the ball.
It was reported in January that United are admirers of Raya, a Spain international, and it is understood that their interest has not faded in recent months.
It comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the future at Old Trafford of David De Gea, who has a new contract on the table but has been given no guarantees that he will remain the first-choice goalkeeper next season.
Raya has only one year remaining on his deal at Brentford, having refused offers of an extension, but he is so highly rated by his current club that they will not allow him to leave for a knockdown price.
“David has been amazing for us,” said Frank earlier this year. “He has done fantastic. I think he is one of the best goalkeepers in this league right now.
“He is one of the captains. He is leading with his performances and behaviour every day. He must be worth at least £40m. If he had three years it would be £70m.”
The recruitment of a new goalkeeper is one of the most pressing priorities for Spurs and Ange Postecoglou, their new head coach, with long-term No 1 Hugo Lloris expected to leave the club this summer.
Lloris said earlier this month that it is the “end of an era” for him at Spurs, adding that he has “desires for other things”.
Earlier this summer, Brentford completed the signing of Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken from Freiburg for a fee of around £11 million.
Brentford have also paid a club-record fee, thought to be around £22 million, to turn Kevin Schade’s loan spell into a permanent move. Schade, a 21-year-old German international, initially joined on loan in January but has now signed a five-year deal after impressing in the second half of last season.
