BRENTFORD IN TALKS WITH PEC ZWOLLE OVER SIGNING OF 18-YEAR-OLD RAV VAN DEN BERG

Brentford are in talks with PEC Zwolle over the signing of Rav van den Berg, according to Voetbal International. The 18-year-old Dutch defender has reportedly attracted interest from several top European sides including Liverpool, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. Brentford are leading the race for the talented centre-back.

16-year-old on track to follow in Liverpool and Preston defender's footsteps

Rav van den Berg is the younger brother of Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg. Last season Rav featured 21 times for PEC Zwolle, who finished second in the Eerste Divisie to gain automatic promotion to the Eredivisie. Van den Berg is a Netherlands U20 international. The 6ft 3in defender is seen as one of the best emerging young defenders in European football.

Brentford are hoping to beat several top European sides to the signing. AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho reportedly tried to sign the teenager in January, but Van den Berg stayed in the Netherlands. There’s been no indication as to how much Brentford will have to pay for the defender, but this could be a brilliant investment for the future.

Tottenham consider David Raya alternatives as Brentford talks stall

Tottenham have told David Raya they could walk away from negotiations with Brentford due to their £40m asking price. They are considering other targets such as Giorgi Mamardashvili and Robert Sanchez.

Raya was part of Spain's Nations League-winning squad

The signing of a new goalkeeper was one of Spurs’ priorities heading into the summer transfer window even before club captain Hugo Lloris expressed a desire to leave.

They had identified Bees stopper Raya as one of their top targets and the Spain international is keen on a switch across London.

But despite Raya’s desire to join Spurs, the club are no closer to agreeing a fee with Brentford for his services.

Thomas Frank reiterated during the final months of the 2022/23 season that Raya would be allowed to leave for a £40m fee, but Tottenham are unwilling to pay that sum and neither side has budged in recent negotiations.

Raya has a year left to run on his contract and has already declared he will not be signing a new one, while Brentford recently completed the signing of his long-term successor – Netherlands international Mark Flekken.

90min understands that Spurs are keeping Raya informed of developments and that they are looking at other options.

Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been linked with Tottenham, though 90min understands he is being lined up as a potential replacement for Andre Onana at Inter. Juventus, Roma and Fiorentina have also spoken to him recently, while Brighton and Manchester United watched him last season.

Current Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who lost his place to Jason Steele last season, is another player on their radar. The Seagulls are expected to sign another stopper in Bart Verbruggen in the coming weeks, too.

Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili is a target for Spurs, but he would command a hefty fee just as is the case with Raya.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is another name that Tottenham are looking at.