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.
A recent update from Ben Jacobs suggested that Barcelona had matched Chelsea’s offer to sign Raphinha. The reputed journalist has now revealed that Leeds United and Barcelona have reached an agreement over a summer deal worth €75 million, leaving Chelsea in the lurch.
The Blues will likely be unimpressed after agreeing to a deal with Leeds United weeks ago. But with Raphinha determined to join Barcelona, Chelsea’s hopes had started fading, even though recent reports had claimed that they had become the front-runners to secure his services 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.
