Journalist Ryan Taylor has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur would rather sign Leeds United winger Raphinha over Everton star Richarlison this summer.
The lowdown: Brazilian interest
Spurs have been heavily linked with both Raphinha and Richarlison in recent weeks as Antonio Conte attempts to build a squad to cope with the rigours of the upcoming campaign, along with the addition of Champions League football to the schedule.
The duo are hot property in the transfer window, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Arsenal all attentive to either or both of the Brazil internationals' situations.
Despite the need for added depth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a sensational swoop for both players seems unlikely, and one onlooker has run the rule over the possible priority for Fabio Paratici...
The latest: Raphinha the chosen one
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Taylor has claimed that Tottenham would be best served to sign 25-year-old Raphinha over his compatriot of the same age.
The Daily Express journalist said: “I think Spurs are edging slightly more towards Raphinha at the moment.
“I think if you look at Richarlison’s profile, my personal view is he’s mainly better centrally and if you look at Tottenham’s side, he won’t have many opportunities through the middle. Outside of that, he sometimes plays off the left, and Son plays there as well.”
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The verdict: Nothing to split them
Since arriving in the Premier League from Ligue 1 club Rennes in 2020, Raphinha - who was described as being a 'nightmare' for defenders by Alan Hutton due to his versatility - has been nothing short of a revelation for Leeds, scoring 17 times and providing 11 assists in 66 outings for a newly-promoted team one year before battling relegation the next.
Despite being able to operate on both wings, the nine-cap Brazil international has mainly been utilised as a right winger during his time in England and would likely provide competition for Dejan Kulusevski, who himself has been in inspirational form since moving to the Lilywhites on loan from Juventus. The Swede netted five goals and supplied eight assists since his mid-season move to north London in January.
Meanwhile, Richarlison backed up two consecutive 13-goal English top-flight campaigns with 10 goals in 2021/22 to help save Everton from the drop and has also shown a willingness to play in different roles during his rise to prominence at the elite level.
Ultimately, both men have proven to be worthy of a big-money move this summer from their current clubs, and the Tottenham squad would benefit from having either added to the ranks.