The latest from the transfer news scene is Tottenham Hotspur’s unwillingness to match Brentford’s £40 million asking price for Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, who has chosen to leave the Brentford Community Stadium ahead of next season.
Raya started his goalkeeping career with Blackburn Rovers before sealing a move to Brentford in 2019. He was pivotal in their promotion to the Premier League in the 2020/21 season and was pivotal to their performances in the two seasons they have spent in the English top flight. The Barcelona-born goalkeeper now believes that it is time for him to move on and has selected Spurs as his next destination.
Brentford and Raya have agreed to part ways and have let the goalkeeper discuss personal terms with Spurs. However, the Bees are insisting on a £40 million fee from the North Londoners, who are hesitant to meet that valuation.
Spurs will lose Hugo Lloris in the coming weeks as the former French captain has chosen to call time on his long Spurs career after the disaster that was the 2022/23 season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is on the verge of returning to the French Ligue 1 as he looks to end his career playing in his home country.
Spurs have also confirmed the appointment of Australian manager Ange Postecoglou who becomes the first Australian to manage a Premier League team. The 57-year-old will officially join Spurs from Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in June but has already started to have a say in the players he wants to work with next season.
He sanctioned the signing of Raya as Lloris’ replacement but with the club unwilling to pay what Brentford is asking, he may be forced to scout another goalkeeper.
Spurs are hoping to negotiate a lesser deal for Raya, who finished last season with the fifth most clean sheets in the league (12) as Brentford ended the season in ninth place. Should the signing fall through, Spurs will pursue the signing of Liverpool second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who will be a cheaper option due to his lack of Premier League experience.
Kelleher, 24, is said to cost £20 million but Spurs will have to do battle with Brentford themselves as well as Brighton and Hove Albion for the Irishman’s services. The Red’s number 2 has only 20 appearances in all competitions in five years at Anfield.
With Brazilian shot-stopper Alisson Becker being the first choice, a move away for the Irish international looks like the best option.
It remains to be seen what Brentford and Spurs decide as regards Raya, with some in the media touting that both teams could find a balance thanks to their mutual interest in Kelleher.
