Personal terms agreed: Arsenal agreed Personal terms to make superstar the first signing after Edu departure
Personal terms agreed: Arsenal agreed Personal terms to make superstar the first signing after Edu departure
Arsenal are ‘willing to put €90m on the table’ to secure a ‘galactic’ but face competition from Liverpool, who see the Barcelona star as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah.
The Gunners have struggled for attacking fluency this season, scoring just 13 open-play goals in 11 Premier League games, with Bukayo Saka bearing the vast majority of the goalscoring and creative load in the absence of Martin Odegaard.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been off the boil while Kai Havertz’s form has been patchy.
Raheem Sterling arrived in the summer on loan from Chelsea but has rarely played and looked off the pace when he has.
Mikel Arteta is keen on making attacking additions to his squad and a report in Spain claims they are preparing an offer for ‘galactic’ winger Raphinha.
They are ‘willing to put €90m on the table’ for the former Leeds star, who’s been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League ever since moving to the Catalans, who were previously willing to listen to offers of around €50m.
But the Brazilian’s outstanding form under new boss Hansi Flick, which has seen him contribute 12 goals and ten assists in 17 games this season, has seen their asking price increase significantly.
The report adds that ‘the Gunners want to convince him with an astronomical salary, which would make him one of the best paid in the entire Premier League, in addition to ensuring that he is essential.’
Despite Raphinha’s fine form playing alongside Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in attack, president Joan Laporta ‘plans to sign a new crack for the trident’, which could open the door for Arsenal, or possibly Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah is among the players linked with Barcelona along with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Rafael Leao and Nico Williams, with the Catalans ‘watching very closely’ as Liverpool attempt to tie the Egyptian down to a new contract, with his current deal expiring in the summer.
If the Reds fail to persuade Salah to remain at Anfield, Raphinha is one of the options on their shortlist to replace him.
The report states:
‘The English team wants to accelerate talks in the coming weeks, aware that Salah’s continuity is vital for the sports project. Despite this, the agreement will not be easy. The Egyptian star is at a time in his career where he seeks to feel fully valued, and although Liverpool is making an economic effort, the offers of other leagues could be tempting.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, they are watching very closely how this negotiation is developing. And it is that Salah’s decision could have direct consequences on the Barcelona team. If the Egyptian finally decides to leave Liverpool, the English could go with everything for Raphinha, one of the most important pieces in Hansi Flick’s attack. The Brazilian, who has been key in Barça’s recent successes, was already in the orbit of the “reds” in the past, and his profile would fit perfectly into the scheme of Arne Slot.’
