Trouble for Chelsea as Barcelona now close to signing target

Chelsea may be about to lose another of their summer target to Spanish club Barcelona.

This comes as Barcelona are said to be ready to submit a bid worth up to £60million for Raphinha.

If the Spanish side manages to carry on with the bid, it would end Chelsea’s hope of signing the Brazil star from Leeds United this summer.

The Times reports the Catalan club are now ready to launch an offer worth £51m up front with a further £9m to follow in add-ons.

According to the report, Raphinha’s agent, former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Deco, on Wednesday met with president Joan Laporta to discuss the deal.

With the look of things, the Catalans are now hopeful of getting the deal done as Raphinha also favours a move to Camp Nou.

Aside from Chelsea and Barcelona, Arsenal were once in the race for the Brazilian before the Blues hijacked the deal with a bid of £55m, but Barcelona have now agreed to Leeds’ £60m asking price.

We will have to wait to see how this will end in the coming days.