Chelsea have reached an agreement with Leeds United for the signing of Raphinha in a £55million deal that could eventually rise to around £65m. The Blues could make the Brazil international their first marquee signing under the new ownership of Todd Boehly.
On Tuesday evening, it was confirmed to football.london that Chelsea had agreed a deal with Leeds to sign the 25-year-old, who is open to moving to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are set to add Raphinha to their ranks, but are still determined to bring another attacking player to the club this summer as well and Raheem Sterling looks to be that man. A bid to Manchester City should be arriving imminently and there is a growing confidence that Chelsea could have their man as early as this weekend as Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his attack.
As of right now, though, Raphinha is the deal that is more advanced. Despite this, reports from Spain suggest Barcelona are very much still alive in the race to sign the Brazilian.
READ MORE: Chelsea agree £65m Raphinha transfer as Raheem Sterling signing edges closer
Chelsea, though, at this stage have the upper hand considering the agreement between the two clubs. So, with that being said, football.london looks at the three main reasons why the Blues are pursuing the Leeds wide man...
Speed on the right
Raphinha is blisteringly quick. The Brazilian has shown on countless occasions for Leeds how his speed on the right-hand side can cause opposition full-backs plenty of problems.
Right now, the Blues have Hakim Ziyech, who while being tricky with his feet, is not quick at all. Raphinha can offer Chelsea the speed on the right-hand side and the ability to cut in on his deadly left foot – similar to what we used to see from Arjen Robben.
"Thinking about what I do best – my speed and ability with the ball," Raphinha said last year. "It's always important that a player is conscious that they must contribute as much in defence as they do in attack."
Goals and assists
Chelsea's attacking players endured a tough season last time out. In the Premier League, it was only Mason Mount who recorded double-digits for goals and assists.
Raphinha, in a Leeds side that were extremely close to being relegated, scored 11 goals in what was a terrible season for the Whites. In his debut season for the Yorkshire club, he found the back of the net on six occasions, while registering nine assists for his team-mates.
The Brazil winger can offer Chelsea that constant goal threat and even in matches where he might not be finding the dangerous and goal-threatening positions, his presence on the right-hand side will leave the opposition left-back with plenty to think about and consider.
Proven in the Premier League
As mentioned above, Raphinha's return since being in the Premier League – 17 goals and 12 assists in 65 matches – is rather impressive considering his side's struggles. He has proven he can do it in the Premier League and that's why Chelsea may have made him their priority in front of the likes of Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele may have needed time to settle into a new country if he did make the move from Barcelona. However, with Raphinha, he is already settled in England and while having to move down south if he does join Chelsea, it's a league he's already proven he is capable of delivering in.
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