Leeds United: Barcelona ready last-gasp offer for Raphinha to gazump Chelsea
Barcelona are preparing to make a substantial offer to sign Leeds United winger Raphinha and beat Chelsea, according to The Times.
The Catalan giants had been struggling to reach the Whites’ £60million asking price for the 25-year-old but they have recently sold 10% of their television rights for the next 25 years.
That brings them an initial figure of £178million, a portion of which has become available to make transfers, and they are set to re-enter the race to sign the Brazilian.
Chelsea have already matched that asking price and come to an agreement with Leeds United and have offered Raphinha a £120,000 per week deal on a five-year deal [Daily Mail, 30 June, page 71].
The player is waiting to make his final decision however as he desires a move to the Camp Nou and will give Barcelona as long as possible to come up with the cash Leeds are demanding.
Ideal
This would be the perfect transfer for us because not only would we get the £60million that Chelsea are already offering, but we also wouldn’t have to come up against him next season.
He would tear Junior Firpo to pieces if he returns to Elland Road in Chelsea blue next season so we need to delay things as much as possible to ensure he heads to Spain instead.
That scenario is also exactly what he wants to happen because deep down, he might be thinking that he doesn’t want to come back to Leeds and score against us.
It would also provide us with a huge amount of money to reinvest and that is ultimately what we have been desperate for ever since Jesse Marsch arrived in Yorkshire.
A new striker, replacement winger, full-back and goalkeeper are all high on the agenda for Victor Orta and Marsch and this huge wad of cash is the final ingredient in the recipe for a very fruity transfer period.
In other Leeds United news, Raphinha’s potential replacement is already in England as he posts on his Instagram amid Elland Road links.