Arsenal step up Raphinha chase but where SHOULD he go?
By Joel Edkins
Barcelona
Barcelona’s need for a right-winger bears on Ousmane Dembele’s whereabouts next season. The France international’s future is equally unclear amid a contract stand-off with the Catalan giants.
Dembele’s current deal runs out at the end of June and he hasn’t been impressed by his current employer’s offers of an extension.
From head coach Xavi and Barcelona’s perspective, this is in large part due to his tarnished injury record and inability to hit the heights expected when fit.
Raphinha is and has been Xavi’s priority target for a while if Dembele was to depart but talk of the transfer appeared to cool after the price required surged.
Financial jeopardy hasn’t helped matters regarding clarity but news of Barcelona being freed up in that department means a move to the Camp Nou is fast approaching ‘now or never’ territory for Raphinha.
Tactically speaking, the former Rennes man – alike most teams – would suit the Blaugrana’s approach. Xavi has implemented more of a counter-attacking style of play since taking over from Ronald Koeman.
Attacking on the break and in transitions is something Raphinha is used to during his time under Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road and could owe to a seamless adaptation to life at Barcelona.