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Football London
Football London
Sport
Alan Smith

Brentford boss Thomas Frank sends transfer message to Arsenal as David Raya bid submitted

Thomas Frank has said that Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is not for sale but confirmed that star attacker Said Benrahma is free to leave the club if the right offer comes in between now and the close of the transfer window.

The head coach also praised the club's staff for developing Ollie Watkins after the striker, last season's joint-top scorer in the Sky Bet Championship, was sold to Aston Villa for a second-tier record £28million this week.

Spanish goalkeeper Raya had captured interest from Arsenal among others but their initial bid was rejected and Frank said there is now no prospect of him leaving the Bees.

Benrahma is valued at more than £25million and has been watched by a host of clubs including Villa and West Ham United, although no offer close to that asking price has been made.

Frank said: "If the price is right for [Benrahma] we're open because that's the way the club operates. The rest are not for sale."

He then clarified that Raya, whose error saw Fulham take the lead in the play-off final but was one of the club's best performers last season, is included in "the rest".

The head coach also praised the club's staff for developing Ollie Watkins after the striker, last season's joint-top scorer in the Sky Bet Championship, was sold to Aston Villa for a second-tier record £28million this week.

Watkins arrived at Brentford in 2017 as a winger, signed for £1.8million from Exeter City, and was converted into a central striker after Neal Maupay was bought by Brighton & Hove Albion last summer.

"I need to praise all the staff at Jersey Road who have done a top job to develop Ollie into a top striker

"We're very proud of what we've achieved - a record sale in the Championship.

"That's a statement from our club."

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