Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will have to pay €100 million (£89 million) in transfer fees for Barcelona winger Raphinha, according to Sport.
The Spanish publication has claimed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta will not sell Raphinha for anything less than €100 million (£89 million) in the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old Brazil international winger joined Barcelona from Leeds United only in the summer of 2022.
90min have reported that Arsenal have already made contact in regard to bringing Raphinha to the Emirates Stadium this month.
The Gunners are searching for a new winger after Chelsea beat them to the signing of Ukraine international Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Could Arsenal pay £89 million for Barcelona winger Raphinha?
In our view, if Barcelona do not reduce their €100 million (£89 million) asking price for Raphinha, then Arsenal are unlikely to be able to sign the former Leeds star in the January transfer window.
After all, Arsenal reportedly did not want to pay more than £62 million upfront for Mudryk.
Barcelona paid an initial £49 million in transfer fees for the winger – described as “an exciting player” and “special” by Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta on COPE’s Great Match show – in the summer of 2022 (Sky Sports), and the former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners will surely want to make a hefty profit on him if they are to sell him now.
Moreover, the winger himself may not be keen on a move to Arsenal in the middle of the season.
After all, as reported by Sky Sports last summer, Raphinha turned down the chance to join the Gunners to make a switch to Barcelona.
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