Transfer round-up: Arsenal agree €35 million deal for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya

Christopher Nkunku out for ‘extended period’ after surgery in blow for Chelsea; Spurs complete €40m signing of Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg

Arsenal have agreed a deal worth close to £30m for the Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, who is expected to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium in time for the new Premier League season.

Raya’s arrival will mean Arsenal secure a long-term target. They made multiple bids for the Spain international in the summer of 2020 but could not reach an agreement with Brentford, who were battling to secure promotion from the Championship at the time.

Three years on Mikel Arteta has got his man and Brentford have achieved a significant return on a player who cost them £2.7m when he signed from Blackburn in 2019.

Elsewhere, Tottenham have completed the signing of Micky van de Ven on a six-year deal from Wolfsburg. The addition of the left-footed centre-back helps satisfy the demand of Ange Postecoglou to bring in defensive reinforcements.

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Spurs have paid an initial €40m (£34.5m) for the Netherlands Under-21 international but the fee could rise to about €50m with add-ons.

Tottenham were weighing up a move for him or Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and pressed ahead with their pursuit of the 22-year-old Van de Ven, who started his career with Volendam before leaving his homeland to join Wolfsburg in summer 2021.

Spurs retain an interest in their former loanee Clement Lenglet, who returned to Barcelona in May, and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo. They will listen to offers for the centre-backs Davinson Sánchez, Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku will be out for “an extended period”, likely about three and a half months, after surgery on a knee injury in a big blow for Mauricio Pochettino.

The forward was forced off during the first half of Chelsea’s final preseason friendly against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago last week. The game was played on a dreadful pitch at Soldier Field.

The initial hope was that Nkunku, who sealed a £58m move from RB Leipzig this summer, would be out for weeks rather than months. But the France international is understood to have sustained meniscus damage in his left knee, necessitating an operation.

“Nkunku has sustained a knee injury which will rule the forward out for an extended period,” Chelsea said. “The 25-year-old has undergone an operation and will now begin a rehabilitation programme.”

The versatile attacker impressed during preseason and joins the defender Wesley Fofana as a long-term absentee. Fofana is set to miss much of the season after surgery on a knee injury.

Chelsea could be forced into the market for attacking additions. They are holding talks with Juventus over a swap deal involving Dusan Vlahovic and Romelu Lukaku, who is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge, but are not interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar.

The former Chelsea right-back Tino Livramento has completed his move from Southampton to Newcastle. The deal is understood to be worth close to £40m. - Guardian