Raphinha is reportedly uninterested in joining Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham amid interest from Barcelona, who will need to pay €70 million for him.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Raphinha does not want to entertain the idea of joining Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian international has his heart set on moving to Barcelona, who will need to pay €70 million to sign him from Leeds United.
Raphinha has been a revelation since joining Leeds United from Stade Rennais in October 2020. The 25-year-old has been a talismanic figure for the West Yorkshire club in the last two seasons, with his stock skyrocketing after playing an instrumental role in helping his team avoid relegation from the Premier League this past term.
The 25-year-old amassed 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League appearances, with his performances also earning him a starring role in the Brazilian national team. Raphinha’s exploits have not gone unnoticed either, with Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur hot on his heels.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the rising uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Ousmane Dembele. While recent reports have claimed that the Frenchman is open to remaining at Camp Nou beyond the summer transfer window, Barcelona will need to keep a contingency plan in place, with Raphinha their priority target.
As for Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe’s plummeting stock has prompted the Gunners to scour the market for a new wide-attacker. To that end, Raphinha has emerged as a viable target for Arsenal. Recent reports had claimed that the north Londoners were closing in on signing the Barcelona target, but those suggestions seem wide of the mark now.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s pursuit stems from the uncertainties surrounding Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner. And while Raheem Sterling has emerged as a target for Chelsea, the Blues might need to sign multiple forwards if more than one attacking player leaves.
Finally, Tottenham’s eagerness to sign Raphinha is also understandable despite Dejan Kulusevski’s exploits since arriving from Juventus in January. Steven Bergwijn is expected to join Ajax in the summer transfer window, while Lucas Moura also has his future up in the air at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Also Read: Three potential Ousmane Dembele replacements for Barcelona
But Raphinha has no interest in joining Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham anytime soon, with his heart set on moving to Barcelona. But if Barcelona cannot afford to pay €70 million to sign the Brazilian international, the three Premier League bigwigs could come into the equation to secure the Leeds United talisman’s services this summer.