Leeds United have told Barcelona they want over £55m for Raphinha.
Following their survival last month with a dramatic 2-1 win at Brentford on the final day, Leeds are believed to have told the Catalan club that they want a significant amount of money for the Brazilian wide player.
It had been reported that should Leeds have gone down Barcelona would have been able to acquire the player for around £21m.
However, the West Yorkshire club’s survival means the Catalan giants are likely going to have to pay a significant amount more than that should they want the Brazilian.
It was reported that Leeds require two conditions to be met: firstly, that their price tag for the player is achieved and secondly that that money is not paid in instalments.
Clearly, for a club in as dire financial straits as Barcelona, meeting those conditions could prove difficult.
Barcelona are struggling to prise Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich owing to their financial constraints, with the the club’s situation meaning they cannot match their obvious ambition in the market.
Lewandowski is keen to leave Bayern Munich and has said he will only leave for one club, Barcelona, but their inability to pay the fee the German club want means that transfer is currently deadlocked.
Raphinha’s dream of moving to a Champions League club could therefore be scuppered, with Leeds believing they hold all the cards following their survival.
It has been reported that Raphinha’s agent, Deco, has been in negotiations with his former club, Barcelona, for some months and personal terms should not prove a stumbling block between the two parties.
Jesse Marsch, the Leeds manager, said last month that the Brazilian remains committed to the club and said his crucial performances in ensuring Leeds’ survival for another season in the top flight was emblematic of that.
‘He is 100 per cent invested,’ Marsch said.
‘His emotion, which has been talked about, can be interpreted as lack of discipline. I see it as total investment. That part has been no thought for me.’
Meanwhile, Leeds plan to finalise their deal for Rasmus Kristensen this week. The club hope the Denmark international will become their second signing of the summer after it was announced Brenden Aaronson would be joining from RB Salzburg.