Reinvigorated Barcelona continues to focus on the building project under former star midfielder Xavi this summer as the Catalonia giants have set their sights on Leeds United ace Raphinha.
The Elland Road outfit is currently embroiled in a relegation scrap for their Premier League survival this season, which forced club director of football Victor Orta to part ways with beloved manager Marcelo Bielsa while tasking incoming boss Jesse Marsch with helping the Whites escape a return to the Championship next term.
At the time of writing, Leeds is just two points from safety and under serious threat of dropping down to the second tier in England, as reported by the Telegraph, Barcelona is weighing-up multiple transfer packages for Raphinha depending on Leeds’ league status by the time the summer window comes around.
Barcelona have stepped up their bid to land Raphinha and are prepared to offer separate deals depending on whether Leeds stay in the Premier League | @mcgrathmike https://t.co/hHNkXJeP5U
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) May 4, 2022
‘The Catalan club have scheduled imminent talks over the Brazil forward rather than wait until the season finishes in three weeks’ time, having made the 25-year-old one of their primary summer targets. Raphinha has been widely reported to have a release clause of around £25million in the event of relegation to the Championship, which Barca is willing to top now to secure him.’
‘They will also try to sign the former Rennes winger should Leeds stay in the top-flight. Jesse Marsch has won three Premier League games since his appointment as manager but Burnley’s form has pulled them into the relegation battle.’
Should Barcelona secure a deal, they may have beaten Arsenal to the punch after Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were recently linked with interest in the budding Brazilian star, while the likes of Bayern Munich have been rumoured to be tracking his progress across the current domestic campaign after he dazzled last season when the club finally returned to the top flight of English football.
