Chelsea face serious competition from the Spanish club for Leeds winger Raphinha
(Image credit: Getty)
A change to Barcelona’s financial situation has allowed the Spaniards to challenge Chelsea for Leeds United winger Raphinha, say reports.
The Brazil international has been heavily linked with the Catalan club this summer, but they risked losing out on him amid serious competition from Stamford Bridge.
The Blues made an offer of £55 million for the 25-year-old on Tuesday, which could rise to £60m, but the Times reports that Barca will now match that bid.
(Image credit: Getty)
Barcelona unlocked transfer funds by agreeing to sell 10 per cent of their La Liga TV rights for the next 25 years on Thursday.
That deal will bring in around £178m to the Catalan club’s coffers straight away, allowing them to make Leeds an offer worth up to £60m.
The right winger is ready to leave Elland Road after two successful seasons in Yorkshire.
(Image credit: PA)
Raphinha has been one of the club’s standout players since they earned promotion from the Championship ahead of the 2020/21 season, scoring 17 Premier League goals in 65 appearances.
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He has a contract until 2024, but is ready to make the step up to European football after helping Leeds avoid relegation last season by scoring in a win over Brentford on the final day.
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
