Raphinha

[Rover]

Even if we do hold out for top dollar its how much and on what sorts of player's will we spend the money.

Perhaps, we should keep buying the prospects that we seem to be and invest the extra in the stadium (west stand) to build revenue?

My concern is that Orta will waste the cash on Traore types (tired, tested and failed)

[Cjay]

Arsenal haven't been in the Champions League for years.

Raph can definitely do better.

[Bluebucket]

Arse have just spent £34.2m on Vieira

[Cjay]

The oracle David Ornstein.


Arsenal have sent a formal offer to Leeds United for winger Raphinha, The Athletic understands.

It is believed Arsenal made contact with their Premier League counterparts on Tuesday and indicated their intention to submit a proposal.

A bid is thought to have followed this evening but it fell well below Leeds’ valuation and is expected to be rejected out of hand.

Arsenal are firm admirers of Raphinha and want to add him to their attacking options.

The 25-year-old Brazil international has long been expected to join Barcelona and the Catalan side are known to be his favoured option, although their pursuit is complicated by financial problems.

After Barcelona, Chelsea are said to be Raphinha’s preferred destination and not only would a move there provide Champions League football but potentially also a better chance of winning major trophies.

Then come Arsenal — they play Europa League football next season — and Tottenham, who qualified for the Champions League and are considering Raphinha but he is not their first-choice option.

Raphinha has enjoyed two fine seasons since moving to Leeds, scoring 17 Premier League goals in 65 top-flight appearances.

The Athletic reported earlier this month that Leeds are sympathetic to Raphinha’s ambition and do not intend to be unfair or obstructive if their valuation is met.

It is understood that Leeds no longer anticipate Raphinha accepting a new contract — something that appeared to be on the cards midway through the season — and although he has not directly asked for a transfer, it is no secret that he sees himself playing in European competition.

Raphinha's current deal is due to expire in 2024.

Arsenal have already agreed deals to sign Marquinhos, Matt Turner and Fabio Vieira this summer.

[SG90]

What is it with these entitled super league clubs thinking they can get our players in the cheap?

[Cjay]

What is it with these entitled super league clubs thinking they can get our players in the cheap?

Because we have an owner who likes to tell anyone who will give him an interview that he will sell our players.

Interviews like the one he did with Forbes near Christmas

[We] will have to sell maybe one or two key players and buy other talents coming up like Leicester did in the past so we need to be humble and realistic of our means 

Even teams who operate like this never say it publicly, puts you in a terrible negotiating position.

Idiot.

[Cjay]

[Lumiukko]

Would be interesting to know what they offered.

[Rook]

Why would he go to Arsenal? It doesn't make any sense.

Liverpool i could understand, but.......Arsenal??

[The Subhuman]

Arsenal makes perfect sense to me

Big 6
London
Can offer high wages
Improving
A player like Raph could be the thing that puts them into the top 3 with Manure in rebuild and we're not sure how good Chelsea will be going forward .. Man City/Liverpool makes no sense, he probably wouldn't be a starter there.... Chelsea or Arse look his best landing spots imo....

[Cjay]

Meh aslong as we get top money for him I suppose.

Playing in the library at the Emirates would be a shock for him.

Still convinced we get shafted on the price.

Few years back Palace wanted £80mol for Zaha and absolutely refused to budge.

All I keep reading is how Leeds are sympathetic and don't want to be obtrusive to Raph.

What a crappy and small club attitude.

Hate it

[Rook]

What a crappy and small club attitude.

Hate it

I agree, Cjay.

But it's not exclusive to this particular era at Leeds. We've never really sold players for what they're worth, have we?

The only recent one i can think of is Jack Clarke. ( We actually had Tottenham's pants down for that one, imo )

The fee we accepted for Pontus Jansson still baffles me.

[VinnysTattoo]

Would have not even thought of him going to Arsenal a few weeks ago.

Rather them than Manure I suppose.

I don’t suppose he even thought of Arsenal as his next team.

Let’s see if they are serious when they put another improved offer in.

[SG90]

Arsenal makes perfect sense to me

Big 6
London
Can offer high wages
Improving
A player like Raph could be the thing that puts them into the top 3 with Manure in rebuild and we're not sure how good Chelsea will be going forward .. Man City/Liverpool makes no sense, he probably wouldn't be a starter there.... Chelsea or Arse look his best landing spots imo....

Their fans think he'll be sat on the bench behind Saka. Can't see Raph sitting on the bench when he's coming into his peak.

[The Subhuman]

Their fans think he'll be sat on the bench behind Saka. Can't see Raph sitting on the bench when he's coming into his peak.

Doubtful ... Arsenal won't pay a hefty sum to have him sat on the bench... They're not Man City by a long chalk

[Cjay]

That is the absolute minimum we should want.

Least it's better than the £50mil that kept being reported.

[Rook]

That is the absolute minimum we should want.

Least it's better than the £50mil that kept being reported.

I'm getting the feeling he'll end up at Newcastle United.

[Scoobychief]

Agree he's got all the credential to be world class, They want him for a knock down price lets hope Leeds do keep a stance on the price.

[Cjay]

I'm getting the feeling he'll end up at Newcastle United.

Don't think so Rook.

Money isnt everything and Raph's career so far has seen a pretty clear progression in status club wise.

Us to Newcastle even with there money is still a few years away from Europe imo.

He will want at the very least Europa League but ideally Champions League as David Ornstein already said (hence why Arsenal aren't his first or even second choice).

Have to say when he does go I will bare bo grudge towards Raph who unlike his agent has behaved impeccable.

He could have easily phoned it in on the last day of the season.

Done the bare minimum in the hope it sent us down and he got his dream Barcelona move and being Brazilian that will always be his dream move no matter where he goes next.

Barcelona in that number 10 shirt will always be his end game.

But he gave everything vs Brentford.

Nobody worked harder and nobody contributed more despite what he knew us surviving would mean.

Just for that Raph is a hero and a move to a club more suited to his talent and quest to trophies is deserved as we can't give that to him.

Love him

[Lumiukko]

Some of the courting doesn't make sense.

Arsenal already with England international Saka in that position and no CL.

Spuds, yes with CL but they just brought in Kulesevski last season on an 18 month loan who was one of the stand-out players of the PL during the second half of the season (admittedly, he is on loan but you would think they would want to make it permanent).

Newcastle hardly a step-up in campaigns he will be part of.

The only two links that make sense are Barcelona (no pot to piss in) and Chelsea. And on that, mostly because of the Deco links.

My only hope is Raph stands by his principles of not just jumping ship for the sake of more money. If his dream move is really Barca, he has nothing to lose by waiting until January when they might have the finances for him. It's win win for him and us. His fee won't really drop (unless something bad happens), and we could be flying by then and he decides to renew his contract (unlikely but we can dream).