Arsenal learn price of perfect Saka backup

Stuart Telford

16 Apr 2024 11:00 BST
3 min read

Arsenal are in the market for another winger to support Bukayo Saka, and now the asking price for their preferred transfer target has been revealed.

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Arsenal's wide men pick up a lot of the attacking burden under Mikel Arteta, whether he plays 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, and two of their top three scorers this season are wingers in Saka and Leandro Trossard. Gabriel Martinelli also has 10 goal-involvements.

But their options are limited beyond those three, with Reiss Nelson not completely trusted as the fourth man in that pack.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours

To that end, Barcelona's former Leeds star has been targeted, the belief that he could be tempted back to England while his current employers need to cash in amid their €1.2 billion debt.

But it would appear Barcelona have no intention of selling on the cheap.

What a goal from Raphinha against Real Madrid 🚀

Already a Barcelona legend 💀 pic.twitter.com/5r11BzzD1g

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) July 24, 2022

Barca want €80m

"At Barcelona they are very happy with [Raphinha's] performance and it will be difficult for them to accept an offer unless it is incontrovertible," reports Diario Sport's David Bernabeu. "Barca has decided they won't let him go for less than €80m.

"The decision was made after an offer from a Premier League team for €60 million came across their desk. Barca want more for a player whose value is rising."

The report didn't confirm whether or not it was Arsenal who had made the bid, he has suitors beyond the Emirates with Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle all previously linked with a move for the Brazilian.

A left -footed right-winger by preference, Raphinha often find himself on the left at Camp Nou with the emergence of star La Masia graduate Lamine Yamal. That hasn't stopped him tallying eight goals and 10 assists from 31 games in all competitions this season.

Raphinha is valued at €24.7 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, with a highest ETV of €48.2m.