Chelsea’s bid of £65 million for winger Raphinha has been accepted by Leeds United: Reports
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Leeds United's Raphinha during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Crystal Palace at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds, England, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool)
Chelsea have emerged as the new favourites to sign Leeds United winger Raphinha after offering a fee of up to £65 million-plus add-ons. The Blues were already monitoring the player’s situation and have jumped ahead of the competition, which included Barcelona and Arsenal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Leeds have reached a “full agreement” for Raphinha. Leeds has accepted the official bid for £65 million including add-ons. The final step is to agree on personal terms with the player, which is currently being discussed.
Raphinha’s preferred destination has been Barcelona so far, but have revealed that the Catalans have informed Leeds that they will be unable to match the numbers now on the table, effectively ruling them out of contention for his signature. With regard to transfers this summer, finances have remained a concern for the Spanish club, and business may still be dependent on player sales.
Arsenal had also made a bid for the Brazilian, hoping to beat Barcelona to the punch. However, that bid fell short of Leeds’ valuation and was promptly rejected. In light of Chelsea’s move, the Gunners are considering increasing their offer.
Read More: Ousmane Dembele to decide his future between Barcelona and Chelsea in the next 72 hours: Reports
Chelsea’s front three could be completely different than last season indicated by the transfer speculation surrounding the blues
Raphinha had 11 goals and three assists in the Premier League last season, despite Leeds being at the wrong end of the table. Chelsea are already in talks with Ousmane Dembele, who will become a free agent in a matter of days when his contract with Barcelona expires. In what is expected to be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge, talks are also ongoing with Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling.
The Blues now appear to have two new wingers for next season, with Sterling on the left and Raphinha on the right, which could also indicate a formation change from Tuchel.
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Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)