Barcelona could demand as much as €65 million from Arsenal for Raphinha, with the Gunners not keen on paying that much.
According to Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness, Barcelona have demanded €65 million to sell Raphinha. Arsenal are interested in the 27-year-old La Liga attacker, although initial reporting suggests they are prepared to offer significantly less than the Catalans’ asking price.
Arsenal told to pay €65 million for Raphinha
Arsenal are interested in a new winger to come in as a cover to play both sides of the wing. They are chasing Nico Williams as a priority target. However, there are alternatives planned in the background should the Athletic Club star choose Barcelona as his preferred destination, which, as it stands, remains the case as per multiple sources.
They have sights on Barcelona winger Raphinha in that case, with the 27-year-old La Liga attacker’s future in significant doubt once the Catalans bring in Williams. Arsenal are prepared to offer around €50 million, and so far, they have indicated an unwillingness to go beyond that for the Brazilian.
Some reports suggested Barcelona were willing to do business at that price, but the latest on the Brazilian indicates that they want around €65 million. The Catalans are pointing towards a potential offer from Saudi Arabia in that price range and hope to pressure Arsenal into paying as much.
While the Gunners are relatively silent either in the chase of Williams or Raphinha, they might maintain their stance to see how the story pans out. They are under no pressure to pay what Barcelona demands, and they could use some strong tactics to bring the price down eventually.
Are Barcelona under pressure to sell Raphinha?
Barcelona has not yet made their move for Williams despite claims from Joan Laporta that they have the required funds to execute the operation. The reality is different than what the Catalan club’s president suggests, as they might have to sell before making the move for the winger as well as Dani Olmo.
Hence, they are taking their chances with a higher price tag. Secondly, the idea of citing the Saudi Arabia bid might not work in their favour as Raphinha does not want to move there now and might prefer a return to the Premier League. Hence, Arsenal are likely to wait and see how the saga unfolds, although they might have to worry a bit about domestic competition for the Brazilian winger, which could see his price rise.
