• Brazil forward has been holding out for Barcelona transfer
• Chelsea had offer accepted last month but set to miss out

Raphinha is close to getting the move he wanted from Leeds to Barcelona after the Catalan club submitted a €58m (£49m) offer that could rise to €68m with add-ons.

Leeds are poised to accept the bid and although there could then be a delay before Barcelona can register him because of the state of their finances and La Liga’s version of financial fair play, a deal is not considered in doubt. 

Chelsea had a £55m offer for the Brazil winger accepted last month and there was also Premier League interest from Arsenal but Raphinha had his heart set on Barcelona.

Leeds accepted some weeks ago that the 25-year-old would be leaving and prepared by signing Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord. They earlier bought another player capable of playing on the wing, Brenden Aaronson, and an outlay of about £90m on six players should now be offset by the departures of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, who has joined Manchester City for £42m plus add-ons.

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