Arsenal have reportedly approached Barcelona with a bid of £34m for one of their attacking talents, whom they have already tried and failed to sign on one occasion.
The Gunners were one of a handful of Premier League teams scrapping for Raphinha‘s services in the summer of 2022, after the Brazilian helped keep Leeds United afloat in the Premier League.
However, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were pipped to the post by Barcelona, who paid £49.4m to bring him to Camp Nou, and the winger has posted respectable numbers in a Blaugrana jersey.
From 87 appearances for La Blaugrana, Raphinha has contributed 20 goals and 25 assists, helping Barca seal La Liga glory and also win the Supercopa de Espana in his debut campaign.
Raphinha’s contract at Barcelona runs for another three seasons, but he has been tipped to head back to the Premier League ever since touching down in Spain, as competition for places in Barca’s attack is fierce.
Arsenal ‘fall short with opening Raphinha bid’
The emergence of teenage phenom Lamine Yamal and loan signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid restricted Raphinha to 17 La Liga starts last season, but he made the first XI six times in the Champions League, scoring in both quarter-final legs with Paris Saint-Germain.
Those contributions helped take Raphinha up to a praiseworthy 10 goals and 13 assists from 37 matches in 2023-24, although his future still remains the subject of much debate following Xavi‘s sacking and Hansi Flick‘s arrival.
According to Football365, both Arsenal and Chelsea are hoping to tempt Raphinha back to English shores, but it is the former side who have made the first move after receiving assurances that the Brazil international is open to a move.
The Gunners reportedly lodged an offer of £34m, but Barcelona are hoping to recoup in excess of £50m for the ex-Rennes winger, who has already been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Flick.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is keen to bring Raphinha to Stamford Bridge, though, while Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr are also in the mix but are not considered the favourites for the attacker’s signature.
Would Raphinha be a good signing for Arsenal?
Premier League-proven, in the prime of his career and excelling in a scoring and playmaking sense for Barcelona last season, Arsenal’s renewed interest in Raphinha does not come as too much of a surprise.
Of course, Bukayo Saka is still indispensable on the right wing, but the perenially-targeted Englishman lacks true cover, with fellow academy graduate Reiss Nelson being the only other right-winger in the squad.
However, Nelson is on the chopping block after only playing a fringe role last season, while there have been claims that Fabio Vieira – who has sometimes deputised for Saka out wide – has not been cutting the mustard in training.
Consequently, a new wide man is high on Mikel Arteta‘s priority list, and if the Gunners can avoid forking out more than £50m for Raphinha, the Brazilian’s signing would represent an astute piece of business.
Raphinha would provide some trickery and flair that is sometimes in short supply in the Arsenal attack, although he would have to be happy accepting a backup role behind Saka or competing with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard for left-wing minutes.
