Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing 27-year-old Barcelona winger Raphinha in the summer transfer window.
Raphinha has been linked with a return to the Premier League in the past as well, and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can bring him back. According to SPORT, the Gunners are willing to offer around £42 million to sign the Brazilian international.
Barcelona have their financial difficulties, and it is no surprise that they are open to selling the Brazilian for the right price. Although the former Leeds United talisman has been a reliable performer for the Blaugrana, he is not an indispensable asset for them.
The 27-year-old scored 12 goals and picked up 11 assists in all competitions last season. A return to the Premier League could be an exciting opportunity for him. He knows the league well and should be able to settle in quickly and make an instant impact.
Can Arsenal accommodate Raphinha?
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can offer the Barcelona attacker regular game time. A player of his quality and experience will not want to sit on the bench at Arsenal next season. The Gunners already have Bukayo Saka occupying the right wing, and Raphinha might struggle to dislodge him in the starting lineup.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta needs more quality in the wide areas so that he can rotate his key players more often. The signing of Raphinha would be an impressive move for the North London club. But it remains to be seen whether they can satisfy Barcelona and the player with their proposal.
The 27-year-old is used to playing in the Premier League, and it will be interesting to see if he can establish himself as a regular starter for the North London club. Arsenal have a talented squad and quality manager at their disposal. They will be hoping to push for the title and the Champions League next season.
Joining them will be an attractive option for most players, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops. Raphinha certainly has the quality and experience to justify the £42 million investment, and the Gunners should look to get the deal done in the coming weeks.
