Leeds United set asking price on Raphinha after rejecting Barcelona’s €35 million bid

Barcelona have initiated their plans to sign Raphinha from Leeds United this summer. With Ousmane Dembele seemingly on his way out of Camp Nou at the end of the season, the club want to bring in the Leeds forward.

Raphinha has indeed been identified as the ideal replacement for Dembele. The Barça camp rate him highly due to his pace and trickery out wide, coupled with his productivity in the final third.

Leeds United’s survival in the Premier League, though, has made the operation quite complicated. If the Whites were relegated, Barcelona would have been able to sign the player for a fee of just €25 million.

But thanks to a final-day victory over Brentford, Leeds United have preserved their top-flight status. As such, Barcelona will have to cough up a large fee to sign the Brazilian.

According to reputed journalist Pedro Almeida, Barcelona have made the first offer of around €35 million to sign Raphinha this summer.

But their offer was swiftly rejected by Leeds United. The Whites have no intention to offload their star player for cheap and are only expected to entertain offers in the region of €50 million.

There is reportedly a release clause present in Raphinha’s contract, valued at around €45 million. Leeds United, though, will not back down easily as they are determined to keep hold of the Brazilian, along with homegrown star Kalvin Phillips.

Barcelona are expected to come up with another offer, and possibly include a few of their fringe players in an attempt to lower the cost of the operation.

The Catalans will look to make the most out of Leeds United’s reported interest in Oscar Mingueza. Sergino Dest could possibly enter the operation as well, though it remains to be seen whether the American international opts to join the Whites.