Former Bristol City captain at the center of the surprise transfer tussle between Arsenal and Wolves

Former Bristol City goalkeeper Dan Bentley has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Arsenal with the Premier League giants having contacted Wolves over the possibility of a summer move for the 30-year-old.

Bentley was sold by City to Wolves for a nominal fee in the 2023 January transfer window, six months before he was due to become a free agent, having been frozen out by Nigel Pearson. Bristol Live understands there was no resale clause for Bristol City as part of the agreement that sent him to Molineux.

Bentley has since made just nine appearances for Wolves in the Premier League, and has remained as Jose Sa’s deputy over the last 18 months but according to The Athletic, Arsenal would like to make him No2 to David Raya.

That’s in preparation of the club selling Aaron Ramsdale, should an appropriate offer be made for the England international, and Bentley represents a low-cost, homegrown alternative to Raya who will be the clear first-choice at the Emirates Stadium next term.

It would also represent something of a homecoming for Bentley who started his career in the Arsenal academy having been brought to north London from his native Essex when he was just eight. Wolves are “not interested” in selling the 30-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract, unless they receive a suitable offer rather than being reinvested.

Bentley never made a senior appearance for the Gunners and went on to star at Southend United, earning him a move to Brentford and then City in 2019 where he played 143 games as the club’s No1 under Lee Johnson, Dean Holden and Pearson, and was made club captain during the latter’s reign.

But after Pearson dropped Bentley in October 2022, handing the gloves to Max O’Leary, he never played a first-team game for the Robins leading to his departure to Wolves.

“It’s an opportunity for Dan and we are trying to reduce the wage bill and there is an element of that,” said Pearson, shortly after Bentley’s exit.

“It’s a great opportunity for Dan and something that suited all parties really as much as anything. Dan’s contract was up at the end of the season so he knew his situation and he’s one of the players I spoke to quite early about his own personal situation .”

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