Arsenal and Newcastle have been handed a new transfer price in the race to sign Barcelona star Raphinha this summer, per recent reports. The Brazilian winger only joined the Blaugrana from Leeds United one year ago in a transfer saga that took plenty of twists and turns.
The Gunners were believed to have reached an agreement with the Yorkshire side for the forward last summer, with rivals Chelsea also in the hunt. But Raphinha's agent Deco held out for a move from Barcelona, with the side eventually landing the 26-year-old for roughly £50million.
The winger made 36 La Liga appearances, scoring seven and assisting seven that helped guide the Catalonian side towards the league title. However, reports have consistently linked the Brazilian with an exit shortly after joining the club, conflicting with what his boss Xavi Hernandez has said in the press.
Earlier this month, Xavi said: "Raphinha is not on the market. He's staying at Barcelona and he's gonna help us a lot. He's a crucial player for me, but really very important player. He makes the difference."
Despite that, a report from Sport says that the Spanish champions are willing to let Raphinha leave in hopes of balancing their finances, along with a host of other stars. Arsenal have previously been linked with a return, while the report claims that Premier League rivals Newcastle United are also in the hunt.
With such interest, Barca are believed to have set up a transfer price of £68million, due to the price they paid for him in the previous summer window. It remains to be seen whether either Arsenal or Newcastle will make their move for Raphinha, as the transfer market nears opening.
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