Newcastle United want Raphinha but face paying a club-record fee to sign the Barcelona winger this summer.
That is according to The Chronicle, who report that Barcelona want around £70million for Raphinha.
That’s around £15million more than the £55million Barcelona paid to sign Raphinha from Leeds United last summer.
It’s claimed that Raphinha could even be offered to Newcastle and Arsenal in the coming weeks as Barcelona look to sell.
Raphinha doesn’t actually want to leave Barcelona; this was his dream move a year ago and he got what he wanted.
The Brazilian hasn’t even been a disappointment for Barca, registering seven goals and six assists in 30 La Liga games.
Barca need money though and Raphinha is seen as a way to bring in major cash this summer.
Newcastle would have no issue paying Raphinha’s huge £115,000-a-week wages but the £70million fee will be a sticking point.
That would be £7million higher than the £63million Newcastle paid for Alexander Isak last summer.
Raphinha can bring magic to Newcastle United
Eddie Howe has preferred to focus his recruitment on players who know the Premier League.
Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon and Chris Wood all fit that bill.
Raphinha would fit in too, having played two Premier League seasons with Leeds United.
The 26-year-old dazzled in the top flight, bagging 17 goals in 65 Premier League appearances.
Newcastle may well fancy adding another right-sided winger with Raphinha certainly capable of taking the Magpies to the next level.
Raphinha showed the consistent ability to create moments of magic at Leeds and if Newcastle have the cash to do a deal – which you would assume they would – then they must push for it.
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