Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly eyeing a potential move for former Leeds United standout Raphinha, who has also drawn interest from Newcastle United. The 27-year-old departed the Premier League in 2022, transferring to Barcelona after playing a pivotal role in Leeds United’s successful campaign to avoid relegation. Since then, he has amassed 78 appearances for the Spanish giants, yet speculation surrounding his future has persisted over the past year.
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Recent reports suggested he was being courted by clubs in Saudi Arabia, while top English clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool have previously been linked with the winger. More recently, Tottenham has emerged as a potential suitor for Raphinha. According to transfer expert Dean Jones speaking to GiveMeSport, while Spurs have shown interest, there’s cautious optimism regarding the possibility of a deal. He stated, “I’m not very expectant over Raphinha, even though Tottenham are interested in him. They have a few like him on their list but I get the feeling he is on it more in hope than expectation.” Additionally, Newcastle has also shown interest in Raphinha, with reports from the Newcastle Chronicle indicating that he has been scouted by the Magpies in the past.
It’s reported that Newcastle’s head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, recently attended Brazil’s match against England, although the specific players he observed remain undisclosed. Raphinha, during his time at Leeds, made 67 appearances, contributing 17 goals and 12 assists after his transfer from Rennes in 2020. Regarded as one of the best value signings in recent memory, he joined Leeds for a reported fee of £17 million.
