Arsenal have suffered a blow in their bid to replace Emiliano Martinez after a £10million bid for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was rejected, according to reports.
The Gunners are keen to sign a new back-up shot-stopper to compete with Bernd Leno after sanctioning the £20million sale of Martinez.
The Argentine had impressed at the end of the 2019/20 season with Leno out injured which heightened his desire for regular first-team football.
With Mikel Arteta sticking by Leno as his number one, the club reluctantly allowed Martinez to depart to Aston Villa whilst recouping a handsome fee for an understudy.
That has left a hole in Arteta's squad, though, which the club need to fill before the window shuts next month.
Icelandic goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson is set to sign for around £1.5m after Arsenal agreed a deal with French side Dijon but the club are still actively pursuing goalkeeper targets.
The Telegraph report that Brentford have knocked back a £10million bid for Raya, who was one of the Championship's best-performing goalkeepers last season.
The Spaniard only arrived at Griffin Park the summer prior from Blackburn Rovers but has immediately impressed.
The report states Brentford have been insistent that Raya will not be leaving the club this summer but it is understood they would be more open to selling the 25-year-old to Arsenal and then taking him back on loan for the season.
The Gunners are reluctant to agree to those terms, however, as they want to integrate Raya into the squad, with current number two Matt Macey also keen to leave for regular minutes.
Raya missed Brentford's opening weekend defeat to Birmingham City through injury.
