Arsenal ready to forget Mudryk by making Raphinha move

Stuart Telford

• 15 Jan 2023 09:03 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal have been beaten to the punch by Chelsea for their top transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk. They could now revisit a move for Raphinha, who joined Barcelona from Leeds last summer.

Arsenal are looking for more depth in their wide attacking areas behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, and were confident of completing a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mudryk before Chelsea outbid them, to the tune of €100 million.

The Gunners were interested in Raphinha last summer - as were Chelsea, Liverpool and others - before the Brazilian completed his €50m transfer to Barcelona. It was a dream move at the time for Raphinha, but his Camp Nou stay could now be cut short.

READ: Mudryk agrees Chelsea personal terms as Arsenal refuse to match €100m bid

'Exploratory contacts'

"After losing Mudryk, who is now destined for Chelsea, Arsenal are looking for possible alternatives," reports Italian Football Transfers collaborator, Gianluigi Longari. "Among Edu's targets, one that stands out is Raphinha, who chose the Blaugrana last summer.

"There have been exploratory contacts in the last few hours to understand the possible feasibility of the negotiation, but still without any offers [for now]."

Raphinha impressed in pre-season, scoring a wondergoal against Barca's Clasico rivals Real Madrid in a friendly in Las Vegas in July.

READ: Barcelona open to offers for summer signing Raphinha

But his production has slowed to just three goals and five assists in 22 competitive games since, and he has now slipped behind Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres in the pecking order of Barca wingers.

Barcelona also need to cash in on a number of players following their group stage exit from this season's Champions League.

Raphinha is still rated at €46.1m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, and a move for a fee in that region could suit all parties.

Arsenal would be getting left-footed attacker for a fraction of Mudryk's price, but it would still go a long way to helping Barca balance their books.