Barcelona’s interest in signing Leeds United winger Raphinha in the upcoming transfer window has been well-publicised.
Initially identified as a replacement for Ousmane Dembele, whose contract expires in less than two months, the 25-year-old has been monitored closely by the Blaugrana for quite a while now and he has seemingly made a big impression.
So much so that, recent reports indicated that Barça were ready to step up their pursuit of the former Rennes attacker and would make a play for his signing even if Dembele signed a new contract and stayed put.
Now a fresh report from SPORT has doubled down on those claims, insisting that Barcelona have put their ‘body and soul’ into their efforts to sign Raphinha in the upcoming summer window.
The 25-year-old arrived at Leeds in the summer of 2020 and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in England. He has upped his performances this season and has been one of their top performers as the Whites battle to stave off relegation.
In 31 league outings, Raphinha has scored ten goals and set up three more. At the same time, the winger has also become a key part of Tite’s Brazil squad, netting three goals in seven matches in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The first-choice option on the right flank for Selecao ahead of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes and AFC Ajax winger Antony, Raphinha is a footballer whose stock is rising rapidly and Barcelona are intent on adding him to their roster before next season.
Personal terms are unlikely to be an issue as the 25-year-old is believed to be keen on securing a switch to Camp Nou. However, Barcelona are yet to negotiate with Leeds and are waiting to see their fate in the Premier League before making a concrete approach.
If Leeds were to get relegated, Raphinha would be available for a much cheaper price. Should they survive the drop, the Brazilian could cost Barça a significant sum in the summer.
CLICK HERE TO COMMENT
