Arsenal still pursuing Raphinha deal

Arsenal are believed to be hopeful of securing the signing of Leeds United winger Raphinha, amid the continued battle for the Brazilian’s signature.

What’s the phrase?

As per Goal‘s Charles Watts, the Gunners are nonetheless ‘firmly within the hunt’ to land the 25-year-old this summer time – in addition to compatriot Gabriel Jesus – with the Premier League outfit holding the idea that they’ll safe a deal for the ahead, as long as rival suitors, Barcelona, don’t ‘rekindle their curiosity’.

Would you like Raphinha at Arsenal?

The La Liga giants had been closely linked with a transfer for the nine-cap gem, though their ongoing financial woes have seemingly put paid to any hopes of a deal, for now, with Jesse Marsch’s facet set to demand round £45m.

The Emirates outfit are believed to be joined of their interest, nonetheless, by north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, whereas Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are additionally mentioned to be monitoring the scenario, albeit with the Blues concentrating on a deal for Ousmane Dembele.

Think about him and Vieira

Sporting director Edu has already acted swiftly this summer time to safe the notable arrival of Porto star, Fabio Vieira, with the Portuguese playmaker set to affix the membership in a £34m deal having shone for the Primeira Liga champions in current seasons.

Regardless of solely making his senior, first-team debut on the tail finish of the 2019/20 marketing campaign, the 22-year-old has gone on to attain ten objectives and register an extra 18 assists within the membership in all competitions, proving himself an actual dynamic, inventive presence within the last third.

The attacking midfielder loved a very worthwhile 2021/22 marketing campaign through which he scored six objectives and supplied an extra 14 assists in simply 27 outings within the league alone, unsurprisingly recording an excellent 7.45 common match score, as per Sofascore – the fifth-highest in Sergio Conceicao’s squad.

The £22.5m-rated starlet will present additional creativity and attacking spark to a squad already plagued by younger, explosive expertise, with Arteta set to have a wealth of ahead choices at his disposal subsequent time period.

That competitors for locations could possibly be strengthened even additional by the addition of Raphinha, nonetheless, with it a mouthwatering thought as to only how devastating each the “outrageous” expertise – as he has been dubbed by Anthony Lewis – and the aforementioned Vieira might be in partnership subsequent season.

With the youthful man more likely to function in a extra central, midfield position, the previous Rennes star – who made the transfer to Elland Street from France in a £17m deal two years – is probably going to offer additional menace from both flank, posing an actual hazard to any defence together with his deadly left foot.

That high quality was evident final time period because the £40.5m-rated “baller” – as described by teammate Tyler Roberts – recorded a powerful haul of 11 objectives and three assists, taking his whole tally to 29 purpose contributions for the Yorkshire outfit within the top-flight over the past two campaigns mixed.

Along with his 14 objectives and assists from final time period, in addition to the 20 purpose contributions of potential colleague Vieira, Arteta and co may doubtlessly be gaining 34 further objectives and assists to their squad subsequent time period, with that added high quality solely set to spice up their hopes of a top-four berth.

There should still be work to do to get the deal carried out, though bringing within the Leeds man may assist Arsenal kind a devastating attacking duo.

IN different information, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “celebrity” signing