Arsenal Weigh Up Surprise Move For Leeds United's Raphinha

Arsenal are weighing up a move for Leeds’ Brazilian maestro Raphinha, according to the Telegraph. 

The 25-year-old was in fine form for a struggling Leeds outfit last season, scoring 11 goals and notching up 3 assists in the league. However, his club side escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth and the Brazilian is said to want to challenge himself in European competition. 

However, if Arsenal were to sign the talismanic winger, they face stiff competition, with interest both domestically and abroad from the likes of Barcelona. 

Leeds signed the tricky wideman from Stade Rennais for a fee close to £17 million in 2020, and his debut season for the Elland Road faithful was similarly explosive to last season, notching up 15 goal contributions in 30 league games. 

The Gunners will be hoping to make use of the Brazilian connections at London Colney, with Gabriel Martinelli and Magalhães international teammates of the Leeds man. The latter was in-fact a teammate of the 25-year-old back in 2016, both members of the Avaí Futebol Clube u20 side. 

Arsenal are definitely in search of a wide-man in the market, with names ranging from Cody Gakpo to Serge Gnabry also being quoted, but it remains to be seen if the interest for the Leeds man becomes concrete, or if Edu and co. opt for alternative targets. 

Mikel Arteta will be acutely aware of going into another season relying solely on Player of the Season Bukayo Saka as a threat from the right wing. At 20-years-old, the Spaniard will want to make sure he doesn’t run the starboy into the ground, after all, he was the only Arsenal player to feature in all 38 Premier League games last season. 

The Arsenal board are set for a hectic transfer window, with movement in and out expected, and time will tell whether one of those moves in will be that of Raphinha.