Arsenal set to make Raphinha approach

Sky Sports have dropped their own set of updates on the chase for Raphinha after rumours of a bid broke on Tuesday evening.

The Lowdown: Raphinha bid

The 25-year-old was a regular feature in Jesse Marsch’s Leeds XI last season and played a huge role in helping the Whites maintain their Premier League status, but despite still having two years remaining on his contract in Yorkshire, has now been linked with a move away from Elland Road.

It has been reported in recent weeks that Spanish giants Barcelona hold a strong interest in the winger, but a surprising new suitor then emerged in the form of the Gunners.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein then claimed on Tuesday evening that Arsenal have ‘submitted a formal offer’, but broadcast giants Sky Sports have contradicted that with their timeline.

The Latest: Arsenal to be rejected

In an article published Wednesday morning by Sky Sports, it’s claimed that Arsenal are ‘interested’ in Raphinha, but only ‘expected to formally approach’ Leeds soon, as opposed to having officially bid already.

They then shared a further update on Wednesday afternoon, suggesting an opening bid will be rejected.

In better news, the source does however state that the forward is unlikely to put pen to paper on a new deal with Leeds, which certainly opens the door for a deal.

The Verdict: Standout performer

After narrowly missing out on a Champions League place, Mikel Arteta will now want to bolster his ranks with plenty of new additions this summer, so we would urge the club to follow through with serious bids immediately, especially considering the interest from across north London.

The nine-cap international, who was once dubbed a “magician” by his Whites teammate Dan James, was the standout performer in a struggling Leeds side last term, netting 11 goals and registering three assists in the top-flight, as per Transfermarkt, and scored on the club’s final day 2-1 victory over Brentford, a result that meant they avoided relegation.

Having already captured the signing of Fabio Vieira, not to mention that a deal for Gabriel Jesus is edging ever closer, Raphinha could be the next to follow in their footsteps and help create an attacking unit absolutely brimming with flair and end product.