Chelsea had Raphinha in their grasp before Barcelona played spoilsport. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
According to GOAL (h/t Football.London), Barcelona have decided to halt their talks with Leeds United for Chelsea target Raphinha regarding a potential transfer. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has previously compared him to Sadio Mane following his eye-catching performances at Elland Road.
Leeds are dangerously close to the relegation zone and could drop down to the Championship as a result. Clubs who have shown an interest in Raphinha would be hoping to see his side fail to survive in the Premier League. That is because there is a clause in his contract worth £25million, which will be activated if his team are doomed in this dogfight.
The Blues have been long term admirers of the Brazilian, but they have been dealt a blow as Raphinha has supposedly agreed to terms with Barca over a potential move. However, the Spanish side have stopped negotiations with the Whites for the time being, with the fee involved likely to be determined by the relegation scrap.
Leapfrogging the Blaugrana side could be problematic, especially if they have reached an agreement with the 25-year-old regarding a summer move. However, that does not mean we should give up just yet, as things could always depend upon the way we express ourselves to the attacker.
Since the relegation battle is still at large, that could give us enough time to make a case, although it remains to be seen if that would be enough or not. Raphinha arrived from Stade Rennais in 2020 and has since made himself a real menace for PL defenders to deal with.
Thomas Tuchel is eager to bolster his attacking department, and Raphinha would be a smart signing, considering how our right-wing could use some additions moving forward. Hakim Ziyech has done a solid job overall, but we would like to add more competition and perhaps force him to do his best consistently in the future.
Raphinha is a great shout in such a situation, but with the Catalans leading the transfer race, the fans wonder whether there is a chance to sign him or not after all. Getting the Premier League star for a cheap price using the relegation clause would have been a massive opportunity for us, but Xavi Hernandez’s side is a real concern.
With time running out, we need to plan an offensive soon if the club wants to stand a shot at pipping the La Liga side in this pursuit. At the same time, it remains to be seen if Raphinha remains an attractive proposition as Jesse Marsch’s side staying in the PL may not make him a steal anymore.
They are currently 17th in the league after 37 games played, 1 point above Burnley but with the Clarets having a game in hand. Everton also have a game in hand as compared to the Whites and are currently one point ahead of them.
Perhaps, that may be the only way to beat Barca in this transfer race, looking at their financially stricken situation. But whether we would be willing to pay a higher fee in such a case or not would only be known in due time.
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