Raphinha is on the lips of all Tottenham fans at present as Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte look to add to the Spurs squad ahead of the 2022/23 season. The vast majority of Premier League clubs have been rather quiet in the transfer market so far, although the same cannot be said about Tottenham.
Signing Ivan Perisic on a free transfer and Fraser Forster also coming in on a similar deal from Southampton once his contract at St Mary's expires, the addition of Yves Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion was a move that highlighted that Spurs really do mean business next term. There's plenty more needing to be done at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the summer transfer deadline, with a new right wing-back, left-sided centre-back and attacker all required.
Spurs already boast a very impressive forward line in Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski but the club require more quality in attack due to the high volume of games coming up because of their Champions League return. Steven Bergwijn is expected to clinch a transfer to Ajax after playing a bit-part role under Conte and the talented Dutchman will need replacing.
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Struggling in the past to bring in another out-and-out striker as cover for Kane, Paratici and Conte must decide on whether they do solely go for a striker, a versatile forward who can play across the frontline or both due to Bergwijn's pending exit. Linked with a move for Richarlison with Everton needing to bring in money this summer, Spurs are also among the many clubs to have shown an interest in Leeds United's Raphinha.
Tottenham certainly won't have it all their own way if they do elect to pursue a move for the Brazilian international, with Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal also mentioned in regards to a big-money transfer for the highly-rated attacker. Hitting six goals and eight assists in his debut campaign at Elland Road, the 25-year-old once again registered 14 goal involvements last term in a struggling Leeds team as he chipped in with 11 goals and three assists.
Missing out for Leeds in their 2-1 defeat against Tottenham in November 2021 through illness, the ex-Rennes man was back in the team when the Lilywhites made the trip to Elland Road in February. Unable to inspire his team to victory as Spurs ran riot with a 4-0 triumph, Raphinha was Leeds' most dangerous outlet and appeared to be the player most likely to help his side find a way back into the game.
Starting on the right flank and up against Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon down Tottenham's left, Raphinha almost got an early assist to his name with Robin Koch racing on to the Brazilian's touch in the area and striking the post as they looked to find a way back into the contest after falling two goals behind.
Despite Tottenham's dominance as they looked to extend the scoreline after Harry Kane's wonderful volley, Leeds still had their opportunities in the contest as they kept on pushing forward. Missing a glorious opening with Stuart Dallas caught dallying on the ball after rounding Hugo Lloris, Dan James then shot wide of the target after Raphinha had picked up the ball on the right flank and burst beyond Davies and into the box before calmly picking out his teammate.
The Brazilian was at it again with time running out as he capitalised on some sloppy play from Davies and won a free-kick after the Wales international halted his run after the Leeds ace nudged past him. Only one man was going to take it and Raphinha had Lloris rooted to the spot with his fine free-kick cannoning back off the goalkeeper's left-hand post
Raphinha was far from his best against Tottenham but he did still look to be Leeds' most threatening player as he produced some moments of quality with his team desperately looking for a way back into the game. Someone who will no doubt have piqued Conte's interest beforehand due to his displays for Leeds, the Spurs boss will have noted what Raphinha did against his team despite Tottenham's masterclass in West Yorkshire.
It's no surprise to see why Premier League clubs are eyeing up a summer deal for Raphinha as a Leeds United exit looks set to come to fruition at some point in the not too distant future as he moves on to bigger and better things. Paratici and Conte must now decide if he is the man to give Spurs' brilliant attack a further boost or they look elsewhere as part of their summer transfer masterplan.
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