ARSENAL fans have hailed David Raya’s signing as an “Edu masterclass” after the Spaniard agreed to join the club.
After a breakthrough in negotiations, Arsenal have been able to land the stopper ON LOAN before having the option to sign him for £27million next season.
GettyDavid Raya will sign for Arsenal ON LOAN[/caption]
David Ornstein reports that Raya will sign a new contract with Brentford that will allow the club to protect value for the keeper.
Arsenal will pay a £3m loan fee this summer.
The goalkeeper spent today saying his goodbyes to his Brentford team-mates and is likely to join Arsenal before their Premier League season opener against Forest on Saturday.
A medical is booked in for Thursday and paperwork will be exchanged between the two club’s imminently.
The bizarre structure of the deal has Arsenal fans hailing sporting director Edu.
One fan tweeted “Apologies are not enough… EDUCATION IS REQUIRED” alongside a compilation of Edu.
Another fan wrote: “Very smart business. Keeping funds available in case they are needed. They’ve done really well to get this deal because it’s essentially what Bayern offered and no one was really keen.”
A third wrote: “Edu Gasper is the best technical director in the league. How has he managed to get Raya on loan?”
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If Arsenal activate their option to buy, they will be getting the keeper for £30m all-in.
The fee looks cut-price after Brentford batted away Bayern Munich and Spurs’ interest in the keeper earlier in the window.
Brentford were previously holding out for a £40m fee for the keeper.
The Spanish international will provide competition for current no.1 Aaron Ramsdale.
The Gunners first tried to sign Raya in 2020 after a personal recommendation from goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, who had worked with his fellow Spaniard at Brentford before joining Arteta’s backroom team.
And it was only after they were unable to agree a deal that they signed Ramsdale from Sheffield United for £24million the following year.
But Ramsdale, 25, has just signed a lucrative new long-term Arsenal contract and is believed to welcome the extra competition for the number one position.
Arsenal have cleared the way for Raya’s arrival with the sale of back-up keeper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest in a deal worth up to £10million.
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