La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly ready to sign 25-year-old Brazilian international Raphinha by offering a player-plus-cash deal to Leeds United.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona will continue to pull out all the stops to secure the services of Raphinha in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have offered a player-plus-cash deal to Leeds United to snap up the 25-year-old Brazilian international.
Raphinha has set the Premier League stage alight since joining Leeds United from Stade Rennais in October 2020. The player immediately became a key figure for the Whites in their superb maiden campaign back in the top-flight and has been the leading light for them in a tough 2021/22 season.
The 25-year-old has nine goals and three assists in 28 Premier League appearances for Leeds thus far this term. At the same time, Raphinha has become a mainstay in attack for the Brazilian national side. All of that has invariably captured the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona.
Widespread reports have suggested that Raphinha is the priority target for Barcelona heading into the summer transfer window, and for a good reason. The Blaugrana might need to plan for life after Ousmane Dembele, who remains at loggerheads with them over the terms of a new contract.
With Adama Traore’s loan deal not guaranteed to be converted into a permanent switch, Barcelona must be in the market for a wide-attacker. Raphinha is thus a viable target for Barcelona, with the two parties reportedly agreeing on personal terms already.
But transfer fee will be the major stumbling block for Barcelona, with Leeds United unlikely to let Raphinha leave for a meagre sum. And the Catalan giants have now offered Leeds United a player-plus-cash deal to bring down the 25-year-old Brazilian international’s price. The Premier League outfit could choose from Sergino Dest, Oscar Mingueza, Clement Lenglet and Martin Braithwaite.
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Interestingly, Mingueza and Dest have recently been heavily linked with Leeds, so Barcelona could be on to something by offering a player-plus-cash deal. But it is unclear if Leeds will accept such an offer or demand a premium to sell Raphinha in the summer transfer window.