David Raya has expressed his desire to leave Brentford, citing the need for the club to allow him to move on, as there is interest in the goalkeeper from Tottenham and Manchester United, writes the Evening Standard.
Tottenham appears to be leading the race to sign the 27-year-old, with personal terms already agreed upon. The transfer fee being discussed is around £40 million, and negotiations between the clubs are ongoing as Spurs seek a replacement for their departing captain, Hugo Lloris.
Raya’s contract with Brentford expires next year, and although the club has already secured his replacement in Mark Flekken, Raya’s agent, Jaume Munell, has stated that his client is willing to stay and leave on a free transfer next summer if Brentford does not lower their valuation.
Raya told The Times: “I know there are rumours about me leaving,” “There are some options for me to go but obviously Brentford are asking for a lot of money.
“That could make clubs not want to buy me, it could make them look somewhere else. But if that’s the value they give me then it’s up to them. I have a year left on my contract and until then I’m a Brentford player, there’s nothing I can do.
“I have ambitions to make the next step in my career. I want to try to win titles and to compete in Europe in the next couple of years. I’m 27 now and I feel like I’m at the point in my career when I want to make that step up. There are options out there but it’s not just my ambitions, the club also needs to let me go.”
“I’m a professional,” he said. “If I end up staying at Brentford I will always give my all, that’s my job. If I have to stay, I’ll try to have an even better season than last season.”