Despite the significant risks and extravagant expenses, Barcelona clinched La Liga last season. The Spanish powerhouse finally found the right direction under Xavi’s leadership, overcoming financial challenges.
After the recent match against Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona ascended to the fourth position in the rankings, trailing Girona by three points due to Girona’s superior game count. The gamble’s success hinges on sustained success, but the journey doesn’t seem to be unfolding as planned.
Barcelona has invested a significant sum of $71 million (£56 million/€65 million) to secure Raphinha from Leeds United, placing high expectations on the player. Additionally, there’s speculation about Raphinha being considered as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah, indicating a possibility of his availability in the near future.
Raphinha played a pivotal role under Xavi’s management last year, contributing significantly to Barcelona’s title-winning campaign with an impressive tally of 14 goals and 25 assists in league play. However, the current scenario suggests a shift, as reports indicate his availability for sale. Barcelona aims to raise funds for signings such as João Félix and João Cancelo, as mentioned by Football Insider. Despite his remarkable past performances, Raphinha has seen limited involvement this season, starting only three league games and finding himself on the bench in one of those encounters.
Potential suitors for the left-footed right-winger include Liverpool, Spurs, and Newcastle. There are rumors suggesting that he might command a fee of $50 million (£40 million or €46 million) if he decides to make a move. While this is something to consider, other signs indicate that Liverpool may no longer be interested.
To begin, Liverpool would likely target a younger player than Raphinha, who will turn 27 soon. More importantly, Liverpool currently has no urgency to seek a replacement for Salah.
When the time comes to replace Salah, Liverpool would need to find a left-footed player with a superior goal-scoring record. However, that moment has not arrived yet, and even if Raphinha fits the ideal profile, it’s not an immediate concern.
Salah continues to demonstrate in each game that he remains one of Liverpool’s most invaluable players. Even if he were to slow down significantly, he would still outperform nearly every player in his position globally.
While rumors about Raphinha’s potential transfer to Liverpool may persist, especially with both Barcelona and Liverpool exploring player options, it is highly unlikely that Jürgen Klopp is currently interested.
