Chelsea move for Ousmane Dembele could be key component in Raphinha Leeds United future
Chelsea’s move for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele could prove to be a crucial turning point in Raphinha’s Leeds United future.
As revealed by The Athletic on Tuesday (14 June), Chelsea are understood to be interested in the Leeds United winger.
However, according to French news outlet Le10Sport on 8 June, Chelsea are closing in a move for Barcelona’s Dembele with the 25-year-old keen to reunite with Thomas Tuchel, with whom he worked with at Borussia Dortmund.
On the surface, this would surely seem like good news for Leeds with big-spending Chelsea now out of the running for the Brazilian attacker?
There is a chance that the West London side will now focus their attentions elsewhere with Dembele their wide man choice.
However, Barcelona letting the Frenchman leave the Camp Nou could well free up more of the Spanish giants’ wage budget and transfer kitty to now make a move for Raphinha.
It was revealed by The Daily Mail on Tuesday 14 June that Barcelona were prepared to offer Dembele a last-gasp new contract which demonstrates that they do have some funds available to use for future transfers and wage offers.
What is crucial for Marsch and the club hierarchy is that they must resolve Raphinha’s future as soon as possible to give themselves as much chance as possible to replace the invaluable Brazilian winger.
Leeds have made some impressive early signings thus far and will be looking to build on the solid foundation they’ve already attained in this transfer window.
The signing of RB Salzburg attacker Brenden Aaronson will go some way to softening the blow should Raphinha eventually leave the club this summer.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have verbally agreed a deal for a Spanish club to make a windfall due to a 20 per cent transfer clause.