Newcastle United are reportedly willing to spend big this summer in order to secure their main transfer targets, with Barcelona winger Raphinha said to be high on their list.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Eddie Howe's side are keen on the 26-year-old former Leeds United man and are ‘willing to pay a lot of money’ to secure his services. The Brazilian joined from Leeds last summer, but despite ten goals and eleven assists, the winger has often cut a frustrated figure when substituted.
This apparent frustration has opened the door for potential suitors to pledge their case to the left-footed front man. Having arrived in a £55million deal from Leeds last summer, Sport report that Chelsea are also interested in Raphinha, with Barca having to raise a reported €150m (£130m) this summer in transfer fees.
Despite the links with a move away, Raphinha has become a regular starter in the La Liga leaders' team this season and any move could only be a last resort should the cash-strapped Catalans be unable to shift other, less prominent, players. It is also not believed that the winger has been subject to any concrete bids as of yet.
Barcelona are looking at offloading players this summer, with another winger, Ansu Fati also reported to be being pushed towards the Nou Camp exit door and a swap deal with Wolves ' Ruben Neves is in the offing. The club is currently under restrictions from La Liga due to their financial situation and must sell players before they have any chance of adding to their squad this summer.
Despite the tough financial situation affecting the four-time Champions League winners, they remain a formidable force in Spain and are set to win the La Liga title under the management of club legend, Xavi. This is with Raphinha playing a key role alongside Robert Lewandowski and promising talent Fati in a front three.
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Despite Newcastle's progress under Howe, the prospect of having to leave Barcelona after just a year could be a tough sell for Raphinha, who has four years remaining on a five year deal signed last summer. But a bid of £70m could be enough to release him from this contract, although there is little sign that this would be the player's preferred course of action.
Newcastle are expected to qualify for the Champions League this season, the first time they will have done so since 2003, and will be hoping to strengthen their squad even further after a terrific season. On their right-wing, Miguel Almiron has slipped out of form in recent months and the arrival of Raphinha could provide tough competition for the Paraguayan.
The talk that Newcastle might be able to seal a deal to bring a starting Barcelona winger to the North East demonstrates the increasing financial might of the Premier League. This is a situation which is continuing to fuel talk of a European Super League, which would provide sides such as Barcelona with the financial might to bridge the current gap.
