Barcelona reaches full verbal agreement with Raphinha; needs to submit at least €55m to Leeds United: Reports
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With the Barcelona board authorizing the sale of stakes in the club’s assets such as BLM in the midst of the financial crisis, their transfer activity is likely to pick up in the coming weeks. The Catalans have identified several summer targets but have been unable to move for them due to a lack of funds. It has raised doubts about Blaugrana’s ability to complete the transfers.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Leeds United superstar, Raphinha is concerned about his situation amid links with Barcelona. The 25-year-old has been identified as the ideal replacement for contract rebel Ousmane Dembele, and a contract agreement is said to be in the works.
He has told his agent Deco, who also played for Barcelona, that his overwhelming preference is to join Xavi’s side this summer and that he will not speak to any other clubs. Raphinha is so desperate to join the Spanish giants that he is willing to accept a less lucrative contract in exchange for the time it takes Barcelona to agree on a fee with Leeds.
Deco will travel to Barcelona in the coming week to meet with the club’s hierarchy and determine how far a deal is from being completed. Raphinha will only consider other offers if his move to Barcelona falls through, as the winger has yet to speak with his agent about the Premier League proposals on the table, with his heart set on a move to Camp Nou.
Leeds, for their part, are maintaining quiet over the situation and are stating that they are yet to field any offers for Raphinha from Barcelona or the other clubs. Barca president Joan Laporta has reportedly contacted Raphinha to assure him that the club will make a move to sign him.
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Barcelona members have approved plans to sell 49.9% of the club’s merchandising company and 25% of their TV rights. The restructure of Barcelona’s finances means they should be able to push ahead with their ambitious transfer plans, focusing on Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski and Leeds United’s Raphinha.
Lewandowski and Raphinha are the club’s priority target and Barcelona have been unable to pay Bayern and Leeds’ €50 and €60 million asking price for the pair respectively up until now but a deal could progress rapidly once the BLM sale is finalized.
Barcelona also have deals in place to sign Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on free transfers from AC Milan and Chelsea respectively but they were unable to register the duo until the wage bill was lowered.
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