Raphinha is expected to be sold by Barcelona during the January transfer window, with Chelsea and Newcastle United interested.
Raphinha has had a mixed season at Barcelona, and the club is willing to cash in on him. According to Football Transfers, Chelsea and Newcastle United are interested in signing the Brazilian winger for a fee of around €70 million.
The former Leeds United winger was at his best in the Premier League with the Whites. As a result, the opportunity to return to England, as was reported in the summer, could be appealing to him.
He would have expected to become a pivotal figure for Barcelona. But things haven’t gone as planned for him. Although he has impressed at times, he has not been able to consistently perform at a high level.
It’s not surprising that Barcelona wants to offload the player in January. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea and Newcastle United are willing to make an offer that meets their €70 million requirement.
&w=707&quality=100)
Raphinha will bring creativity, flair, and vision to the Chelsea attack, which could use some sharpening. He will help create scoring chances for players like Nicolas Jackson, and he is versatile enough to play on either flank.
The Brazilian is well-versed in the Premier League, and he should be able to settle in quickly and make an immediate impact. Newcastle United have been without a top-tier winger since the departure of Allan Saint-Maximin, and Raphinha would be an excellent addition. He will add creativity and goals to Newcastle’s offense.
The reported €70 million asking price is within both clubs’ budgets, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Newcastle may be able to offer him UEFA Champions League football in the second half of the season, giving them an advantage in the transfer race.
Also see: Three strikers Chelsea should consider signing in January.
Having said that, Chelsea are one of the most powerful clubs in the world, and the opportunity to join them can be difficult to pass up. Furthermore, they have a world-class coach in Mauricio Pochettino at their disposal, and the Argentine could be instrumental in convincing the player to move to Stamford Bridge.
