Journalist Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT that David Raya, a target for Manchester United, would be open to playing at Old Trafford even as the club's backup goalkeeper.
This summer, Erik ten Hag might require a new number one.
Raya has been strongly rumored to be leaving Brentford, but Thomas Frank has emphasized that the London club will not lower its asking price.
He said: "I think we only have one player for sale. That’s the one that’s been talked a lot: David. He costs £40million, I think I said. We are a selling club — I don’t think that’s a secret.
"But they need to be crazy high amounts for the players if we want to have anyone to leave. I’m pretty sure that everyone, including myself, is very happy here at Brentford.”
Raya is one of the players United have shortlisted for the summer transfer window, according to TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, who recently spoke with GIVEMESPORT.
According to reports, incumbent goalkeeper David De Gea is considering moving to Saudi Arabia. If the Spaniard decides to leave Old Trafford, ten Hag will need to recruit a replacement.
Raya was a target for Tottenham Hotspur, although Jones previously told GIVEMESPORT that they had moved on to other players.
David Raya may have previously been amenable to go to United, according to Jones."I think that as a goalkeeper, you would definitely have wider eyes to a move like this if you know that the number one shirt is there for you," he told GiveMeSport.
"I think about when David Raya was linked from Brentford, I was told he would even have considered it as a number two."
"If United were interested in him, and David De Gea was moved on, then straightaway you've got a £40m goalkeeper that is more than happy to come and join you, elevate his own standing in the game and push himself towards the Spain setup."
In the Premier League during the 2022–2023 season, Raya averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.18 while also making 4.1 saves per game and maintaining 12 clean sheets.
Raya stopped 8.7% more crosses than De Gea did, according to FBref, and the former also had a higher save percentage.
De Gea failed to complete a single pass, whereas Raya completed 13 successive ones.
The Brentford goalkeeper is not only a capable shot-blocker, but he has also shown to be better at claiming crosses and effective when he has the ball in his hands.