Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and several other clubs are set to test Barcelona’s resolve with a bid for Rafinha when the January transfer window opens.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Rafinha may be the latest Barcelona player to exit the club, with several top clubs lining up moves for the Brazilian. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham from the Premier League as well as Serie A clubs like Inter Milan and AC Milan are all eyeing a January deal to sign the attacker.
According to the report, all of the aforementioned clubs had attempted to sign the player in the summer and are set to return in January as well, especially with rumours that Barcelona will now be open to letting the Brazilian leave, given that they have signed Ousmane Dembele and could sign Philippe Coutinho in the coming transfer window(s).
Liverpool will be up against Tottenham and Arsenal for Rafinha, Who is expected to leave this January. [MD] #FCBlive
— Catalan Edition (@CatalanEdition) September 7, 2017
Rafinha, like his brother Thiago, was one of the most highly-rated graduates of the fabled La Masia academy setup. Thiago left the club early to join Bayern Munich and has subsequently established himself as a true talent in world football.
Rafinha on the other hand, stayed in Barcelona and has slowly pushed himself towards the upper echelons of the pecking order. But, the managerial turnover at the club has seen him unable to lock down a regular place in the starting eleven.
The 24-year-old featured in just 28 matches for the club last season and is yet to feature this season so far due to a knee injury. Hence, there are murmurs that Barcelona, who were earlier opposed to let the player leave, are now ready to offload the Brazilian.
Indeed, the summer saw rumours of Rafinha being offered to Liverpool in a cash-plus-player deal to land Coutinho, much to no avail. However, we may see Rafinha leave the club come January, be it in a cash-plus-player deal or as a standalone transfer.
TRANSFER CENTRE: #LFC, #THFC and #AFC plot January move for #Barca midfielder Rafinha https://t.co/NQI62nxNPR pic.twitter.com/vH6bAz3NBq
— Sky Sports PL ? (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2017
Liverpool do not seem to be in need of a player of Rafinha’s talent pool right now. But, Arsenal and Tottenham could both be enticed to submit an offer in January, with both the clubs eyeing additions to their attack out wide.
It now depends on Rafinha as to which league he prefers, with Inter Milan and AC Milan also interested in him. The Premier League, though, looks a grander prospect with a wider fan following and could be the league which pulls Rafinha towards them.