Arsenal Transfers: Gunners to submit £50m bid for Raphinha

Arsenal are reportedly set to launch a £50m for the Leeds United winger with interest from Barcelona dropping off, paving the way for the Gunners to swoop.

A lot can happen in a week. This time seven days ago, Arsenal fans were screaming from the terraces for the club to get moving in the transfer window. After Manchester City (Erling Haaland) and Liverpool (Darwin Nunez) both got their summers rolling, fans wanted movement.

Well, they got it.

First was the news of Fabio Vieira’s deal from Porto, then the acceleration of the Gabriel Jesus deal. Lisandro Martinez of Ajax was reportedly the subject of a bid from Arsenal, and now, a bid is thought to be on the way for Leeds United winger Raphinha.

Arsenal set to lodge £50m bid for Leeds winger Raphinha

According to The Times’ Gary Jacob and Martin Hardy, Arsenal will table a bid for the Brazilian. With Barcelona thought to be interested, the fact that Leeds avoided relegation means the proposed release clause for Raphinha’s contract now isn’t viable.

It has also been reported by James Marshment that the winger is “fed up” with waiting on the Spanish giants to find the money needed for the deal, making it easier for Arsenal to push ahead.

Technical director Edu held talks with Raphinha’s agent Deco according to The Times, which are believed to have gone incredibly well. So much so that a bid is expected from the Gunners any day now.

Should the deal go through and Arsenal add another Brazilian to its ranks, the depth of attacking talent is starting to become a strength for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Already boasting Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard, and soon-to-be Gunner Fabio Vieira, the addition of Raphinha and, hopefully, Gabriel Jesus means competition for places is really heating up.

With the new rule of allowing five substitutions, it gives the Gunners supreme flexibility during games. Should, for example, Saka and Martinelli start out wide, Arteta has Smith Rowe, Vieira, AND Raphinha to bring on to change the game.

While these are just reports at this stage, it is a signal of intent from Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he wants the new arrivals to be ready for pre-season. That time is quickly approaching.

With multiple deals thought to be near completion, the next couple of days could be rather interesting for the north London club.