Man Utd, Chelsea and Tottenham on high alert as Raya turns down Brentford contract offer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 27 Feb 2023 08:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Brentford and Spain goalkeeper David Raya has given hope to Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in their hopes of signing him this summer.

Raya, 27, has been a topic of transfer conversation since Thomas Frank's side were promoted into the Premier League back in 2021, but his future looks more uncertain than ever as the summer transfer window looms closer.

The shot-stopper has just 18 months left on his deal at the Brentford Community Stadium, and the free transfer signing of Thomas Strakosha from Lazio last year suggests the club are preparing for Raya's inevitable departure.

READ: Who is David Raya? The Brentford goalkeeper wanted by Man Utd and Chelsea

Strakosha, also 27, has Champions League and Europa League experience, as well as over 160 Serie A appearances on his CV, but has been unable to displace Raya as Brentford's first-choice 'keeper this campaign.

Raya's form has seen him keep eight clean sheets in 23 Premier League appearances this season and his 100 saves in the competition can't be bettered by any other goalkeeper.

As a result, interest has begun ramping up and top clubs are beginning to circle. Brentford manager Thomas Frank even recently admitted that it will be "difficult" to retain Raya's services beyond this summer.

READ: Manager of the year? Ten Hag's Man Utd miracle

The twice-capped Spain international was included in Luis Enrique's 2022 World Cup squad ahead of Manchester United's David de Gea, but didn't make an appearance in Qatar.

Raya has been linked with either replacing De Gea at Old Trafford, French star Hugo Lloris at Tottenham or Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea, with all three clubs on the lookout for a new goalkeeper.

What has Raya said?

In an interview with The Athletic, Raya admitted to rejecting a new deal at his current club.

"I turned down two contracts, one last year and one this January," Raya said. "They weren’t the offers we were looking for. I can only say that.

"I want to focus on playing games and not think too much about my future. I have a contract here, so I’m willing to finish that, but you never know what’s going to happen in the summer. Maybe the club wants to sell, maybe not. Maybe I want to stay. I want to focus on football and see what happens.

"The club will decide the price and if a club wants to pay money, that will be it,” Raya continued. “I’m not worried about that. I’m not in charge of that.”

Brentford currently sit in ninth place in the Premier League standings, but Raya wants more. "I have big ambitions," he revealed. "I want to play in Europe and I want to fight to win a title. I want to fight to win a European title. I trust myself to be able to play in those types of games.”