Three Premier League clubs – and probably Barcelona – will be happy to learn Raphinha is ‘considering’ a summer transfer. Also: West Ham want one of the Brazilian’s ex-Leeds teammate.
RAPHINHA ‘CONSIDERING’ BARCA EXIT
Both Chelsea and Arsenal made bids to sign Raphinha from Leeds last summer before he joined his dream club Barcelona. The London clubs remain linked to the Brazilian winger, with Newcastle also in the equation these days.
The front cover of Sunday’s Diario SPORT features Raphinha, with the Spanish newspaper saying he is considering his future at the Nou Camp as he expects to play a lot less next season after an average debut campaign.
It is said that Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea are all talking to the player’s representatives ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Gunners could do with another forward, but Mikel Arteta does have a pretty settled front three in Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli at this moment in time.
Chelsea should definitely not pursue the former Leeds star. They need to focus on bringing in a striker, while the signings of a central midfielder and central defender should be a bigger priority than another winger with so many already at the club.
A move to Newcastle makes a lot of sense. They are set to return to the Champions League and definitely need another forward. Raphinha is world class on his day and has already proven himself in the Premier League. A move for him makes more sense than one for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby – who has never played in Our League.
IRONS WANT ENGLAND, CITY DUO
West Ham have shown lots of ambition in recent transfer windows, splashing out on the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca last summer, and are expected to spend big again at the end of what has been a bitterly disappointing season (domestically anyway).
They are once again being linked with Kalvin Phillips – who they wanted to sign from Leeds before he joined Man City last July.
It has been difficult for the England midfielder since his £45m transfer from his boyhood club. He has only started two games all season, coming off the bench in all eight of his Premier League appearances.
A move after a year at the Etihad could be just what the player needs – and West Ham want to bring him in alongside his club and England teammate Kyle Walker, according to 90min.
The same outlet claimed in March that Phillips is considering his future at City, and the Hammers should step up their pursuit with Declan Rice expected to leave the club. The London club’s interest in Phllips is well known, while they have ‘made noises’ about Walker – who is no longer Pep Guardiola’s first-choice right-back.
West Ham are ‘monitoring the situation’ with one potential stumbling block Walker’s huge wages.
WHAT A MESS, EH?
Lionel Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain looks to be coming to an end after he failed to show up for training in order to travel to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission. He was expected to leave at the end of the season, but this made his exit inevitable.
Sky Sports say a move to the country he travelled to could be on the cards, with Saudi outfit Al-Hilal keen. They have been linked with Messi for quite some time and this transfer would see the Argentine play in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo once again. The player’s potential contract could be worth ‘over £400m’.
While there are lots of reports saying Messi will leave PSG, The Times actually say the French champions are open to keeping the Argentina captain.
With his future up in the air, Barcelona, Al-Hilal and MLS side Inter Miami are all said to be interested.
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