Arsenal are weighing up a bid for wantaway Leeds United star Raphinha.
The Brazil international played a decisive role in the Yorkshire club’s eventually successful battle against relegation, and scored a penalty in the vital final day win over Brentford which cemented their top flight status.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been credited with an interest in the talented winger, but Barcelona are said to be the 25-year-old’s preference.
The Catalan giants are, however, in a perilous financial position, although the windfall they appear increasingly likely to receive from the transfer of Frenkie de Jong to Untied could boost their chances of signing Raphinha.
Arsenal are determined to enhance their attacking options this summer after they were forced to rely heavily on Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to shoulder the goalscoring burden from wide positions last term.
Technical director Edu boasts an excellent record in signing Brazilian players having overseen deals that brought the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinellie and Willian to the Emirates.
The former Arsenal midfielder is also playing a lead role in the negotiations with the representatives of Gabriel Jesus and appears to have concluded the transfer of Sao Paulo winger Marquinhos.
Jesus represents Arsenal’s No.1 priority this summer, but Raphinha, according to The Telegraph, has been added to their list of targets as Mikel Arteta aims to build a squad that will have to contend with European football next season.
Raphinha joined Leeds from Rennes in October 2020, in a deal worth around £17 million. He scored an impressive 11 goals in 35 league appearances last term.
MORE : Arsenal make huge breakthrough in deal to sign Marquinhos
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