Transfer News Live: Wolves reject Arsenal’s penny-pinching £50k bid for goalkeeper

Dan Bentley and Jose Sa of Wolves. Credit: Molineux News

Transfer News Live: Wolves reject Arsenal’s penny-pinching £50k bid for goalkeeper

Kolawole Babatunde 14:19 - 10.07.2024

Arsenal are actively trying to sign a backup goalkeeper to David Raya but this has hit a stumbling block after Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected their opening bid.

According to reports, the Gunners tabled a meagre £50,000 offer for 30-year-old shot-stopper, Dan Bentley, which Wolves have swiftly dismissed as being far too low.

Gunners preparing for life without Aaron Ramsdale

Mikel Arteta celebrates with his goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale || Credit: PA

Bentley, who has just one year remaining on his contract at Molineux, has emerged as a target for Arsenal. The experienced goalkeeper has appeared only five times for Wolves across the two seasons he has spent with the club.  

With Ramsdale looking increasingly likely to depart the club this summer, manager Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his goalkeeping options behind the reliable Raya.

However, Arsenal's initial offer seems like a token gesture rather than a genuine attempt to acquire Bentley's services. 

Wolves value the goalkeeper considerably higher and the Midlands club are only open to selling Bentley for a decent fee. This suggests they would only entertain offers closer to his market value, which is around €2 million per trasnfermarkt. 

Bentley, who joined Wolves in January 2023 from Bristol City, has been number 2 to Jose Sa in that time.

Though he already has an history with the Gunners, having began his youth career at Arsenal, spending seven years with the club before being released in 2008. He also knows the club’s current goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana, as both spent time together at Brentford.

Arsenal's goalkeeping conundrum

Arsenal goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya | Imago

The Gunners are looking to reshape their goalkeeping department this summer, having already penned 22-year-old Karl Hein to a new deal. However, Hein, is expected to go out on loan.

The rejection from Wolves puts Arsenal back in square one in their search for a reserve goalkeeper. With time ticking away in the transfer window, they will need to decide whether to return with a significantly improved offer for Bentley or explore alternative options.

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