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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

David Raya: Brentford happy to sell Tottenham target if transfer bid ‘doubled’

Brentford technical director Lee Dykes has said David Raya can join Tottenham with the Bees' blessing this summer - but suggested £20million would be a laughable fee for the goalkeeper.

Spurs and Brentford are in talks for Raya, 27, who has just a year remaining on his contract and has consistently refused to sign a new deal in west London.

Spurs want the Spain international - who, crucially, counts as a homegrown player in England after coming through the ranks at Blackburn - as a long-term replacement for captain Hugo Lloris, who has said he wants to seek a new challenge this summer.

Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast before the final game of the season, Dykes said: "We sat in front of David and said listen, 'If you go beyond us, then that's the time for you to go'.

Target: Tottenham are in talks over signing David Raya (Evening Standard)

"I think he's one of the best in the Premier League which puts him one of the best in the world. He's in a really good moment as a goalkeeper and he's well within his rights to say, 'Maybe I want to explore my options'. That's fine. No probs.

"We signed him again in 2019, that first summer. I'd seen him come through his loan spells in the lower leagues and really develop at Blackburn. It was a great deal for us but effectively we've had a plan for him and we're OK with that.

"We'll replace him if we need to replace him or he'll sign a new deal and stay. What will be will be. We have to understand that at Brentford, like Brighton, there are bigger clubs at there that can hunt for these players and we're always of the mindset that if we help them get to the very top level, we've played our part.

"As long as the club's remunerated adequately for any potential transfer, I'm sure Phil [Giles, director of football] and Matt [Benham, owner] will make the right decision."

Brentford value Raya at £40m, with Spurs reportedly willing to pay closer to half that. When it was put to Dykes that Thomas Frank, the Brentford head coach, had been asked about a potential £20m deal, Dykes said: "Did he laugh?"

He added: "Listen, the market sets itself. This summer will be a big goalkeeper market, there's a lot of goalkeepers that will be available. Phil and Matt will assess the valuation at the time. My point at David Raya is you need to pay double because he can play No10. You get two positions."

Asked if he felt Manchester City's Ederson was the best goalkeeper with the ball at his feet in the Premier League, Dykes said: "No, Raya is up there. I watch him every day in training, he's top level."

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Dykes himself has been linked with Spurs as a replacement for director of football Fabio Paratici who resigned in April.

"All of that means nothing," he said. "I'm Brentford technical director, a great position. I'd probably say no because I'm happy at Brentford. There's things to do here, we've got plans to step this club forward."

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