Arsenal’s sports director Edu Gaspar wants to sign 26-year-old Barcelona forward Raphinha ahead of next season.
According to SPORT, Arsenal are looking to sign Raphinha ahead of next season. The 26-year-old forward is happy at Barcelona but he hasn’t ruled out a move away from the club. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s sports director Edu Gaspar is pushing for the signatures of the Brazil international.
Raphinha came into the limelight while playing for Leeds United in the Premier League. The 26-year-old was on the radar of multiple top clubs. However, Barcelona managed to win the race for his signature, and he joined them ahead of the ongoing season.
He started slowly but has managed to put his foot on the gas of late. The Brazil international has been a regular in Xavi’s team over the past few weeks. And, he has surely produced the goods in the ongoing season. Raphinha has featured in 45 matches and he has managed to contribute towards 21 goals.
He has found the back of the net on 10 occasions and has 11 assists to his name. The 26-year-old dreamt about playing for the Catalan giants and would love to continue at the club for years to come. However, his future is uncertain. Ousmane Dembele’s injury gave the Brazilian an extended run in the team.
But, with him expected to be fit for the next season, Raphinha will drop to the bench. And, if they do end up re-signing Lionel Messi, his game time could take a major hit. And, because of sporting reasons, the 26-year-old might part ways with Barcelona. However, the club will only let him leave if they receive a bid of around €70-80 million.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are one of the clubs keen on having him in their ranks. Edu Gaspar is a big fan of the player and wants him at the club at any cost. He believes the Brazilian can help them take the next step as they are all set to return to the Champions League next season.
The Gunners were interested in him back in the day and are all set to revive their interest in the 26-year-old in the summer. Edu Gaspar has been in contact with Raphinha’s agent Deco as he looks to land him at the club. With Arsenal willing to go all out for the Brazil international, it will be interesting to see if they can manage to sign him.
