Chelsea lead Barcelona in summer transfer race for Raphinha – and he has two release clauses
Gianluigi Longari
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
Chelsea lead Barcelona in the race to sign to sign Raphinha this summer - and the Brazilian will be available for as little as €25 million if Leeds are relegated, FootballTransfers understands.
Chelsea are set for a very busy summer market and have earmarked Leeds winger Raphinha as the ideal player to strengthen their attack.
Chelsea have already held talks with the entourage of Raphinha, who is open to joining the European champions.
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No official offer has been tabled yet but Chelsea supremo Marina Granovskaia is keen to make the deal happen.
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Raphinha’s contract with Leeds expires in the summer of 2024 and, contrary to reports, the Brazilian right-winger is not planning to renew his deal as of now.
Does Raphinha have a release clause?
The 25-year-old has two release clauses in his contract for buying clubs.
He currently has a minimum fee release clause of €75m, which means that Leeds cannot stop any club who bids that amount.
However, if Leeds are relegated to the Championship, his release clause fee will drop to €25m.
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Marcelo Bielsa’s team are struggling in fifteenth position just five points above the Premier League dropzone.
But Chelsea are not the only team seriously interested in signing Raphinha.
Barcelona must qualify for Champions League
Barcelona have also begun preparations to make a summer bid for the ex-Rennes star but any move will be dependent on the Blaugrana qualifying for the Champions League.
Barca are currently involved in a scrap with Atletico Madrid and others to make the top four in La Liga, although their form is improving.
The Catalans have well-documented financial problems and must qualify for next season’s Champions League to raise the cash needed to fund Raphinha’s signing.
Raphinha would be a replacement for Ousmane Dembele, who is set to leave Barcelona on a Bosman this summer when his contract expires.
Arsenal are also interested in signing Raphinha as they plan to strengthen their own attack this summer, but Chelsea are in the lead followed by Barcelona.
Raphinha joined Leeds from Rennes for €20m in the summer of 2020 and has developed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League.
He has scored an impressive 15 goals and delivered 11 assists in 52 games for the club.
He has also played seven times for the Brazil national team, scoring three goals.
