Sources: Door opens for Arsenal to sign Barcelona star after Messi reveal
Arsenal are interested in signing Barcelona star Raphinha this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The Spanish club are looking to fund a deal to bring Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou and are willing to sell the 26-year-old winger alongside others to get the deal over the line.
Arsenal have been put on alert by Raphinha’s sudden availability and are considering submitting a bid for him at the end of the season.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of Raphinha and pushed to sign him last year before he chose instead to move to Spain.
A new winger is not a top priority for Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal recruitment team, but they also do not want to turn down the opportunity to secure a long-term target.
It is understood that Barcelona have placed a £50-60million price tag on Raphinha, with the La Liga leaders eager to recoup the fee they paid to Leeds United for him last summer.
Raphinha is happy at Barcelona but would be open to a Premier League return if forced out of the club to finance a deal for Messi.
Newcastle United have also shown an interest in signing Raphinha this summer, with Football Insider sources first revealing the Tyneside club’s interest in him on Friday (28 April).
The Brazil international has played a major role in Barcelona’s 2022/23 campaign, making 44 appearances across all competitions for a total of 2,610 minutes.
He has scored 10 goals and registered 11 assists for Xavi’s side, and failed to make an appearance in only two league games throughout the entire season.
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