Transfer Centre

Raphinha Barcelona move 'depends on Ousmane Dembele future'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 June 2022

Raphinha Barcelona move 'depends on Dembele future'

Barcelona reportedly cannot press ahead with their efforts to sign Leeds United's Raphinha until Ousmane Dembele's exit from the club is confirmed.

Barcelona's proposed move for Leeds United attacker Raphinha reportedly hinges on whether Ousmane Dembele leaves the club this summer.

Raphinha helped the Whites stave off relegation from the Premier League by the skin of their teeth last season but is now widely expected to depart after two years at Elland Road.

Interested parties would have supposedly been able to prise Raphinha away from Leeds for a £25m fee if the Whites were relegated, but Jesse Marsch's side can now afford to drive a hard bargain for his services.

A fee in excess of £60m could be required to sign the 25-year-old ahead of the 2022-23 season, although he is said to have given Barcelona his word that he will join them this summer.

However, Spanish outlet Sport reports that Barcelona will not be able to move forward with their pursuit of Raphinha until Dembele's exit as a free agent is confirmed.

Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona in April 2022 © Reuters

Dembele only has two weeks left to run on his Camp Nou deal, and Barca have tried and failed to tie the 25-year-old down to an extension after his strong comeback in the second half of the 2021-22 season.

The France international has supposedly rejected La Blaugrana's final offer of a new contract, and the Catalans will therefore lose him on a free transfer after paying £126m for his services in 2017.

Barca president Joan Laporta recently revealed that he had not heard back from Dembele or his agent regarding their latest offer, and the report adds that Barcelona have now 'totally given up' on the possibility of keeping the ex-Borussia Dortmund man.

Chelsea are understood to be at the head of the queue to sign Dembele as a free agent, which would see Thomas Tuchel reunite with his former Dortmund protege in West London.

Dembele has scored 32 goals and provided 34 assists in 149 games for Barcelona in all tournaments, but he has missed a further 102 club matches through injury or illness since 2017.

Leeds United's Raphinha celebrates scoring their first goal on May 22, 2022 © Reuters

Meanwhile, Raphinha is said to have agreed to a five-year deal with Barcelona, and the club have 'no doubt' that the former Rennes man will end up in Catalonia this summer.

Raphinha has made 67 appearances for Leeds since being signed by Marcelo Bielsa in October 2020, during which time he has scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions.

The Brazil international helped Leeds retain their top-flight status last term with 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League outings, and his contract at Elland Road is due to expire in 2024.

Arsenal were previously linked with a move for the South American but have since welcomed Sao Paulo attacker Marquinhos to the club and are expected to prioritise their pursuit of Gabriel Jesus instead.

A switch to Liverpool was also mooted for Raphinha as a replacement for Sadio Mane, but the Reds are now confirmed to be signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez in a deal that could fetch up to €100m (£85.4m)