Update provided as Arsenal edge closer to a changing of the guard in goal

Matt Turner’s pending move to Nottingham Forest comes in the wake of being a credible deputy in North London as well as putting in a strong showing for the US in Qatar, while the potential acquisition of David Raya adds further competition for places at the Emirates.

By Andrew Thompson

August 05, 2023 at 9:34 pm GMT+1

Premier League title contenders Arsenal are on the verge of upgrading their depth of options in yet another position this summer via the transfer market as the Gunners are closing in on the sale of United States international Matt Turner, opening the door for Spanish shot-stopper David Raya.

Per Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest is closing in on a move for Turner after the club failed to secure Manchester United’s Dean Henderson on a full deal after a credible loan spell in 2022-23 under Steve Cooper.

EXCL: Nottingham Forest are closing in on Matt Turner deal with Arsenal, here we go soon 🚨🌳🇺🇸 #NFFC

Verbal agreement in place, personal terms also agreed — clubs finalising the details and then it will be sealed.

🔴⚪️ Arsenal now closer to David Raya, could be done in 24/48h. pic.twitter.com/qGvnQpiuWY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2023

Turner has already verbally agreed to a move to the City Ground, with personal terms also already locked in, with just Arsenal and Forest needing to finalize the terms surrounding the move.

A fee has yet to be reported, however, with some suggestions that Arsenal could be keeping their cards close to their chest in order to get the best possible outcome in their pursuit of David Raya, who is reportedly a day or two away from sealing his move across London from Brentford.

But for some Arsenal fans, a move for Raya could potentially spell the long-term end of Aaron Ramsdale being viewed as the undisputed number one for the Gunners, given the fact that Raya is the keeper that Arsenal had targeted before their eventual move for Ramsdale.

Though the club will be back in the Champions League in the upcoming season and with a remit from Arteta that they will be pushing for honors on all fronts rather than just making up the numbers, it is rare that a club has two bonafide first-choice keepers on the books for long. And with Ramsdale having recently signed a new long-term contract with the club, his market value is protected if he is to be sold moving forward.