Barca president open about club’s interest in Raphinha | OneFootball

Joan Laporta has now sealed a deal for Barcelona to augment their cash supply by selling their future TV rights, meaning the club are suddenly able to spend in a way they weren’t even just a week ago.

That means the club president is coming out swinging speaking about all his team’s potential transfer activity, including a move for Raphinha, who Chelsea have been bidding for.

“We have talked about Raphinha with Leeds, we know that the player would also like to come to Barça, but there are also other clubs that want him. It would not be dependent on Dembélé, because the coach sees them as compatible,” Laporta said in quotes picked up SportWitness.

That’s bad news for Chelsea, because they know that the Brazilian’s preference is to go to Catalonia, and he will only accept a move to Stamford Bridge once that route is exhausted.

The additional line about Ousmane Dembele is interesting too, as the Blues have been linked with the out of contract winger. It’s likely a bluff from Laporta, but their offer remains on the table for the France winger, and it’s not impossible that we see the window end with both players at the Camp Nou and Chelsea left scrambling.