Chelsea are interested in reinvigorating their ambitions to sign Barcelona forward Raphinha in the summer transfer window, confirms Fabrizio Romano. This comes after they tried their best to sign him last summer, only to end up seeing the winger join the Catalan giants from Leeds United.
Chelsea Reignite Interest in Raphinha Transfer
Chelsea Might Need to Pay Big Money for Barcelona Star
Romano adds that Barcelona necessarily doesn’t want to sell Raphinha but might be forced to offload him to reduce their wage bill – which is needed for them to bring back Lionel Messi in the summer. It’s also claimed that the La Liga side’s manager Xavi really likes him and has been pleased with his performances since joining the club.
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Chelsea might have to pay a rumoured fee as high as £70 million to sign him. Moreover, it’s also added that Newcastle United are also very interested in bringing the Brazilian winger back to the Premier League and are ready to make a big-money move for him. Romano adds that Chelsea wanted to sign Raphinha last year and are keeping a close watch on his situation.
How Can Raphinha Fit In at Chelsea?
Chelsea are reported to have plans on a busy summer transfer window once they appoint a new manager, which is rumoured to be Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues have spent a lot of money under Todd Boehly.
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So it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Blues do go on to make a big-money move for Raphinha, as they are desperate for some creativity and incisiveness in their front line. The Brazilian winger has gained a reputation for being able to set up many chances with his wonderful crosses and also score clever goals. The 26-year-old – who was hailed as having “something special” by Robert Lewandowski earlier this season – has scored ten goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for Barcelona this season.
