Arsenal have contacted Wolverhampton Wanderers over a potential deal for goalkeeper Dan Bentley, reports have revealed.
The Gunners confirmed David Raya as their starting stopper by triggering the £27m purchase option in his loan from Brentford earlier this summer, with current deputy Aaron Ramsdale heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium as a result.
While concrete interest in Ramsdale is yet to surface, Arsenal are well aware that he could depart this summer and Alan Nixon was the first to reveal interest in Wolves stopper Bentley.
The Athletic add that Arsenal have reached out to Wolves over a possible move for 30-year-old Bentley, who has played nine times since his move to Molineux in January 2023.
Wolves are reluctant to sell Bentley, who they see as a strong backup to Jose Sa, and would only consider doing so if they were offered a significant fee which would allow them to buy a new reserve stopper.
Bentley spent seven years in Arsenal’s youth system before moving to Southend United. Later in his career, he enjoyed three seasons with Brentford before being sold to Bristol City – his replacement at the Bees, coincidentally, was Raya.
Earlier in the transfer window, Ramsdale was reported to have agreed a move to Newcastle United, although the England international publicly rubbished the stories before heading off to Euro 2024 with Gareth Southgate’s side.
Talks over his future are likely to be held upon Ramsdale’s return from Germany, with Gunners icon David Seaman urging the goalkeeper to leave for his own good.
“I’ve always said Aaron is too good to be a number two,” Seaman told the Daily Star. “He’s a fantastic player. He needs to play. Wherever that is, I don’t know.
“It’s a weird situation. Ideally, you’d love him to stay because that would be great for the club. But he needs to move for his career. And that includes England because, if he’s not playing, he’ll keep dropping down the pecking order with them.”
What we know
- David Raya retains spot as Arsenal’s starting goalkeeper after sealing £27m transfer
- Gunners braced for departure of current deputy Aaron Ramsdale
- Wolves’ Dan Bentley identified as possible target.