Since arriving at the Nou Camp in the summer of 2022, the former Leeds United star has fallen short of expectations, and it’s reasonable to assume that his future is now somewhat uncertain.
Rumors regarding Arsenal surfaced in January of last year, and Football Transfers claims that his asking price has now dropped to just €70 million. Chelsea also had a chance to get him before he decided to sign with Barca prior to the start of the previous campaign.
Raphinha’s €100 million asking price may have turned off Arsenal when they expressed interest in him nearly a year ago, so there could be an opportunity to close the deal at a lower cost.
Arsenal could certainly use some backup for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but Raphinha might prefer alternative choices because it would be difficult for him to become a regular starter at the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea, on the other hand, may still be eager to make adjustments to their assault following a patchy start to the season, but it’s also reasonable to argue that they’ve improved recently and may feel comfortable cutting down on their extravagant spending.