Barcelona winger Raphinha has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.
According to a report from the Spanish publication Sport, the 27-year-old has been on the radar of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. However, the player wants to stay at the Spanish club beyond this season.
It will be interesting to see if Chelsea and Tottenham follow up on their interest with an official proposal to sign the winger during the summer transfer window. Barcelona are going through financial difficulties right now and they might consider selling the player if a lucrative offer is presented.
The former Leeds United winger has done reasonably well since he moved to the Spanish club, but he has not been able to establish himself as an indispensable asset for the Spanish club. He has four goals and seven assists across all competitions and Barcelona could easily replace him next season.
Meanwhile, the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham need attacking reinforcements and the Brazilian could prove to be a useful acquisition. He has played in the Premier League before with Leeds United and returning to his comfort zone could be ideal for him. He will add pace, flair and creativity to the side. Chelsea will need to improve their attacking options if they want to finish high up the table. They have been quite mediocre going forward since last season.
As far as Tottenham are concerned, it will be interesting to see if they are prepared to dip into the transfer market for a winger. They already have a number of wide players at their disposal, and Raphinha might struggle for regular game time at the north London club.
It is no surprise that the 27-year-old winger is keen on staying at Barcelona beyond this season. Chelsea are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season and the move could come across as a step down for the player.
At Tottenham, he is unlikely to be guaranteed regular game time.
Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the opportunity to play for them will be quite tempting for any player. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
