Raphinha could be on his way to Stamford Bridge this summer with Chelsea now leading the race for the winger after agreeing a fee with Leeds United. The London-based club took pole position after tabling a bid worth up to £65million, according to the Athletic, and will now work on personal terms with the winger in a bid to secure the deal swiftly.
Chelsea’s decisive move, funded by new owner Todd Boehly who - after the departures of sporting director Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech - has taken a very hands on approach to Chelsea’s transfer business, has catapulted the Blues above Barcelona, Arsenal and Tottenham.
That is due mainly to the speed at which the club have come close to Leeds’ valuation of their man. Barcelona, despite being Raphinha’s preferred destination, were either unable or unwilling to budge from their £35million stance, while Arsenal’s opening bid last Tuesday was some way off and swiftly rejected.
And when it comes down to negotiations with the player himself, it is Chelsea who are likely to come out on top, for they can offer Raphinha every condition he desires in a step up to the elite of European football.
While it has never been explicitly stated, the 25-year-old will be looking for a significant pay-rise following a move away from Elland Road. Since arriving from Rennes for £17million, The Brazilian has racked up 17 goals and 11 assists in 84 appearances, at times single-handedly winning games - a fair basis for financial reward.
His current contract in West Yorkshire, which runs until 2024, pays £63,500 per week, according to player salary website Spotrac. And that is set to nearly double if he chooses Stamford Bridge - The Daily Express report that Chelsea are set to offer Raphinha around £115,000 per week as a basic wage, with plenty of bonuses on offer.
Raphinha has been more open about his desire to play in Europe, and that would preferably be in the Champions League. That’s an important point to consider when you look at Chelsea’s main Premier League competition in Arsenal, who will be playing Europa League football next season.
The Blues have qualified for Europe’s flagship competition on the last four occasions - including next season’s edition - and have done so 17 times since the turn of the century. Under the new ownership of Boehly and the tutelage of one of Europe’s best managers in Thomas Tuchel, they show no signs of slowing down either, with Raheem Sterling set to arrive from Manchester City and a host of additional world-class talent linked with moves to London.
Not only will Chelsea offer Raphinha a chance to compete in the Champions League, but they are the side most likely to catch the top two of City and Liverpool in the Premier League and they are also the best equipped to win a cup - offering a better chance of silverware than any of their competitors.
Being part of an elite European team is all well and good though, but with the Qatar World Cup on the horizon, Raphinha has cited regular playing time as a key deciding factor in his summer decisions. The winger has shot into stardom as part of Tite’s Brazil squad since making his debut last October, but knows he must keep playing regularly if he it to maintain a place in the squad.
Arsenal simply cannot guarantee minutes on the right flank, with fan favourite at the Emirates Bukayo Saka already dominating the role. Similarly, Spurs and Antonio Conte may move to a front-two of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, either forcing Raphinha into a central role or not being able to offer regular football.
At Chelsea, however, the opportunity for Raphinha to make a position his own is more clear than anywhere else. Hakim Ziyech looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge after making just 14 Premier League starts, while Christian Pulisic made just 13 as Tuchel failed to nail down a starting right-forward.
If Raphinha can hit the ground running at Chelsea in the same way he did at Leeds, then he can eclipse both Ziyech and Pulisic and take command in his preferred position. And that carrot of regular minutes at a Champions League club may prove the difference maker.
There is still plenty to do on Chelsea's end if they are to secure Raphinha, but they possess both the financial clout and footballing stature to do so.
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