Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Barcelona winger Raphinha at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old winger has five goals and 10 assists in all competitions and he could prove to be a useful acquisition for the North London club.
The player has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea as well. However, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed to Football Insider that the likes of Tottenham could struggle to meet his wage demands in the summer. Moving to Saudi Arabia is more likely for the Brazilian international.
“For Premier League fans, it’d be great to see Raphinha back in England after his standout time at Leeds. There’s been lots of talk about Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea coming in for him.
“But if Saudi Arabian clubs come in with the right offer for him, I can see Barcelona snapping their hands off. He’s also on a big wage at Barcelona, so I think English sides would struggle to match those demands. Saudi Arabia is the more likely move.
“Tottenham, in particular, are well-stocked with wide players. Raphinha would definitely be an asset for Spurs if they could fund a move and did follow up their interest.”
Raphinha would be an expensive acquisition
Saudi Arabian clubs are keen on signing the 27-year-old as well and they could offer a substantial amount of money for his services.
Barcelona are going through financial difficulties and they will look to sell to the highest bidder and it remains to be seen where Raphinha ends up.
Tottenham need to bring in more quality and depth in the attack. Signing a winger could prove to be a wise decision, but they are unlikely to pay a premium for Raphinha. They will need to strengthen the other areas of their squad as well and therefore they will look to sign someone with a more reasonable asking price and wage demands.
There is no doubt that Raphinha would have been a quality acquisition for the Londoners. He has played in the Premier League before with Leeds United and he could have made an immediate impact at Tottenham. He is versatile enough to operate on either flank and he would have added goals and creativity in the final third.
