Leeds United’s Asking Price For Raphinha To FC Barcelona Transfer

Premie
PINC
r League outfit Leeds United have set their asking price for winger Raphinha, who has attracted strong interest from FC Barcelona.

The cash-strapped Catalans are currently waiting to see whether Ousmane Dembele renews terms with them while on the cusp of becoming a free agent a month from now.

Playing hardball in negotiations through agent Moussa Sissoko, the club’s €105mn ($113mn) signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 is reported as “95% out” of the Camp Nou exit door and is expected to join Paris Saint Germain on or after June 30 to link up with his Les Bleus teammate Kylian Mbappe next season.

With a space free on the right wing, then, Barca have turned their attention towards Brazil international Raphinha who has allegedly handed in a transfer request to his Yorkshire club after guaranteeing them Premier League football next term on the final day of the English top flight season.

Had Leeds not beaten the drop, there were rumors that Raphinha could be available for a cut fee of €25mn ($31.6mn).

While this is obviously no longer a possibility, it was said that Leeds wouldn’t point to the Porto Alegre native’s £75mn ($95mn) release clause either and Barca would be able to offer something around €40mn ($50.6mn) to wet Leeds’ whistle.

Over at Mundo Deportivo on Monday, however, it is said that The Whites have set a €55mn ($70mn) asking price for Raphinha that Barca will only consider tabling if Dembele indeed moves on.

MD alleges that Raphinha is “still waiting for Barca to make a move” for him, but this will not be done until there is a “definitive outcome” in Dembele’s case.

What is certain, however, is that Raphinha is the La Liga giants’ number one choice for the right flank after excellent reports were received on the 25-year-old.

Also an important factor is the cordial relationship the club shares with his agent Deco, who is of course a Barca legend of the Ronaldinho and Frank Rijkaard era of the mid-00s while working as a scout in his and Raphinha’s homeland Brazil.

While Barca can try and lower the final fee by offering players in return, Leeds haven’t shown interest in any of the stars that Xavi Hernandez has deemed surplus to requirements thus far.