Report: Barcelona set for talks in Leeds over Raphinha this week

By Jordan Harris

Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany will travel to Leeds this coming week to hold talks in the hope of striking a deal for Raphinha, according to a report from Sport.

Some may have expected Raphinha to be a Barcelona player by now. There was so much talk linking the Brazilian with a Nou Camp move towards the end of this past season.

Reports have suggested that Raphinha has already agreed a five-year deal with the Catalan giants. But Leeds staying up has clearly thrown a spanner in the works.

Barca would have had to have paid just £21 million to sign him if they were relegated. Perhaps bizarrely, reports claimed that they still hoped to pay a similar amount despite Leeds beating the drop.

Clearly, that will not be the case. Sport reports that Leeds want £56 million for Raphinha. Barcelona meanwhile, hope to pay nothing more than £34.3 million for the winger.

The situation may come to a head in the near future. Sport suggests that Alemany will be in Leeds early next week for talks. Barcelona are prepared to offer players in a swap deal, with Oscar Mingueza one name on the Whites’ radar.

Barcelona talks with Leeds for Raphinha this week

Leeds fans will be a little nervous about the upcoming talks. Obviously, there will still be some hope that Raphinha could yet stay for another year.

However, if Leeds let him go, it is absolutely imperative that the Whites get the biggest fee possible. Certainly, there will be uproar if Leeds compromise from their £56 million asking price.

For some, that price is not enough. So selling for anything like £35 million would be baffling.

Raphinha is an ‘unbelievable‘ player. Barcelona need to pay a fee befitting of one.