With a £60 million offer on Tuesday, Chelsea snubbed Arsenal’s attempt to capture Raphinha from Leeds United.
After their original offer of £30m plus add-ons was turned down last week, Arsenal conducted negotiations with Leeds on a hectic day and put up a fresh offering.
After their original offer of £30m plus add-ons was turned down last week, Arsenal conducted negotiations with Leeds on a hectic day and put up a fresh offering.
As they continue their simultaneous negotiations with Manchester City over a £55 million move for the England international, Chelsea intends to pair Raphinha with Raheem Sterling in a new-look strikeforce.
Raphinha was initially a target for Chelsea in January. But they anticipated that the 25-year-old would sign with Barcelona. However, Chelsea’s new American owner Todd Boehly acted shrewdly to give his team a dominating position when it became clear that he was mulling a transfer to Arsenal.
However, their primary goal is to obtain Raphinha’s signature before their competitors do.
The Porto Alegre flyer had been sought by Barcelona for most of the season, but due to their budgetary limitations, Raphinha was forced to wait for proposals from appropriate Premier League clubs.
After Arsenal made their first offer, he was willing to accept their offer, but Chelsea offered immediate Champions League football and, more significantly, matched Leeds’ asking price.
Raphinha helped Leeds just avoid relegation last season by scoring 11 goals and dishing out three assists. Tuchel will be thrilled to have acquired such a creative and attacking danger as he seeks to give Liverpool and Manchester City more of a challenge.
The club’s interest in Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona and Richarlison of Everton, who will soon be free agents, will almost probably stop with the acquisition of Raphinha.
While preparing to make over £100 million from the sales of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, who is anticipated to sign with City on Friday, Leeds will concentrate on their own goals.