- 12 hours ago
Arsenal and Liverpool offered 'one of the best players in the world'
Several Premier League clubs including title contenders Arsenal and Liverpool are set to do battle for Raphinha this summer with it being reported that Barcelona are now ready to cash in on their winger.
Raphinha, 27, has been in decent form for the Blaugrana this season, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists across 35 games in all competitions.
However, the Brazil international is set to be one of the players made available for transfer at the end of the season as Barca attempt to rejuvenate their squad on the strictest of budgets.
There can be no new signings unless significant sales are made at Camp Nou and with manager Xavi coveting Nico Williams of Athletic Club, Raphinha could become the fall guy.
It’s now been reported by TBRFootball that intermediaries around Raphinha have sounded out potential interest from some of the biggest sides in England.
Arsenal and Liverpool to battle for Raphinha
Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle are among the teams who have been contacted by third parties and made aware that the former Leeds man is up for sale.
Chelsea and West Ham, meanwhile, are among the teams previously linked with Raphinha and they may well come back into the picture.
Barca paid Leeds around £50 million for Raphinha in the summer of 2022 and will look to receive more than that amount if they are to let him go with the player under contract until 2027.
🔵🔴🇧🇷 Xavi: "The real Raphinha is the one we saw in Paris. He's intense, finds the space, creating chances...".
"He's one of the best players in the world when it's the moment to attack the space". pic.twitter.com/3l4fcBQLDl— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 13, 2024
Xavi was effusive in his praise for Raphinha following a recent Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain, describing the left-footer as ‘one of the best in the world’.
Other Barca players reportedly up for sale are Ronald Araujo - primarily due to the emergence of Pau Cubarsi - and Oriol Romeu.
Also considered for the exit will be Robert Lewandowski, whose future is not guaranteed amid interest from Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.