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| Leeds United's Raphinha shields the ball from Burnley's Dwight McNeil during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Burnley at Elland Road on January 2, 2022 in Leeds, England. |
Chelsea will have to focus on alternatives for
Raphinha, with Barcelona and Leeds United agreeing to a €75 million deal for
the Brazilian winger.
According to Ben Jacobs,
Raphinha is closing in on completing a move to Barcelona in the summer transfer
window, with the Blaugrana reaching an agreement with Leeds United
over a €75 million deal. The Brazilian attacker was also a target for
Chelsea, who will now need to identify alternatives.
Raphinha is ready to embark on a new adventure after
guiding Leeds United to safety on the final day of the 2021/22 season. The
Whites are also prepared to sell the 25-year-old, who chipped in with 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League appearances last
term, after bringing in Luis Sinisterra as his long-term replacement.
But the Peacocks have been adamant that they will
only let Raphinha leave if a suitor meets their valuation of the player. To
that end, Chelsea and Barcelona have been scrambling to secure the services of
the Brazilian international in the summer transfer window, with the Blues the
first team to reach an agreement to sign him.
Barcelona first set sights on Raphinha midway
through the 2021/22 season, when Raphinha was trying all he could to keep Leeds
United in the Premier League. And the player is keen on moving to Camp Nou,
with Barcelona his dream destination, thereby giving the Blaugrana the
impetus to pursue him this summer.
While Raheem Sterling is reportedly on the verge of completing a move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea
will need to identify an alternative to Raphinha amid uncertainties surrounding
the futures of Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, and Timo Werner. Meanwhile,
Barcelona should soon bring Raphinha to Camp Nou in a €75 million deal if the
update by Ben Jacobs is correct.
