Chelsea are close to agreeing personal terms with Raphinha on a deal worth around £120,000 a week as they look to add him to a new-look £105million attack with Raheem Sterling.
The Blues are closing in on a £55m deal to sign Raphinha from Leeds after hijacking Arsenal’s move for the 25-year-old Brazil international.
Chelsea are confident of sealing a deal that would see Raphinha triple his wages, which have not increased since he joined Leeds in 2020.
Arsenal had an opening bid for Raphinha rejected last week and Chelsea have now moved ahead of the Gunners and Barcelona in the race to sign him.
Chelsea have also opened talks over Sterling as they bid to rebuild their attack after allowing Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter Milan. Lukaku arrived in Milan this morning to complete his loan move to Inter just a year after Chelsea splashed out a club-record £97.5m to bring the striker back to Stamford Bridge.
New Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have promised Thomas Tuchel at least six new signings this summer and sources believe an agreement for Raphinha is close.
Tuchel has driven the move for Raphinha as he aims to build a more versatile attack.
Raphinha has impressed in his two years in England and can play in a number of roles across the front line. His agent is former midfielder Deco, who played for Chelsea for two years.
Raphinha agreed personal terms with Barcelona earlier this summer but their financial situation meant the deal stalled and opened the door for Chelsea to swoop. Tottenham have also considered a move for the winger but are now focused on talks to sign Richarlison from Everton.
Chelsea are plotting a summer spending spree to ensure they are in a position to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool next season.
The Blues are expected to make an opening bid for Sterling this week, with a move for Cristiano Ronaldo unlikely despite Boehly holding talks with his agent Jorge Mendes.
Sterling has one year left on his contract at City and is ready to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have also expressed an interest in the 27-year-old but Chelsea hope to make him the first marquee signing of the new era at Stamford Bridge. Sterling is said to be keen on the idea of returning to London and would cost at least £50m.
Tuchel has also considered moves for Richarlison and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele. The signings of Raphinha and Sterling, added to Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, would strengthen options for his front three next season.
Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic could all leave Chelsea this summer as part of a major overhaul of the squad at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have also been linked with a move to re-sign Nathan Ake from Manchester City. Tuchel is plotting a defensive rebuild after losing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
Chelsea are in talks to sign Matthijs de Ligt but a move for the Juventus centre-back would be expensive. They remain interested in Jules Kounde of Sevilla and have also been linked with Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar, who is a target for Paris Saint-Germain.
