Newcastle eyeing €80 million transfer swoop for Barcelona superstar
According to Jijantes, Newcastle United are interested in making an €80 million (£71/$89m) bid for Barcelona winger Raphinha. The Premier League side was keen to sign Raphinha last summer, but the player instead opted to sign with Barcelona. The Magpies are reportedly interested in bringing him to St. James Park and are willing to pay the transfer fee to acquire his services.
Barcelona is reportedly considering selling Raphinha due to financial struggles, and they are looking to cut down their salary budget by €200m (£176m/$220m). They also want to bring in another €100m (£76m/$120m) in transfer fees to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations. The club’s priority is to bring Lionel Messi back from Paris Saint-Germain, which will require sufficient funds.
Raphinha has been a key player for Barcelona this season, especially after an injury to Ousmane Dembele. Despite scoring only 10 goals in 45 matches and displaying erratic form, the Brazilian winger has been heavily relied upon by Xavi. However, he has expressed his frustrations openly on several occasions, which has not gone down well with the Barca hierarchy. As a result, the club is open to selling him, and there is plenty of interest from England, given his prior experience in the Premier League.
In the most recent game against Osasuna, Raphinha was substituted in the 52nd minute after what many believe was an underwhelming performance. He was replaced by Dembele, indicating that the Frenchman remains Xavi’s preferred choice on the right wing. However, Raphinha will have five remaining La Liga matches to prove his worth to the manager and board and convince them to keep him beyond the current season.
Newcastle’s interest in Raphinha shows their desire to strengthen their squad for next season. If the transfer goes through, it would be a significant coup for the Magpies and a statement of intent from the club’s new ownership. However, it remains to be seen whether Barcelona will be willing to sell the Brazilian winger and whether he will be interested in returning to the Premier League.
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Would you sell Raphinha for €80 million (£71/$89m)?