Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a bid of £60m for Barcelona winger Raphinha.
The Brazilian only joined from Leeds United 18 months ago for a fee of £55m, and helped the Catalonian club to the La Liga title last season.
However, the 27-year-old has missed the last month with injury, and his place in the side is now under threat to teenager Lamine Yamal.
Yamal is a direct rival playing in the same position, and has been one of Barca’s standout players during a difficult run which resulted in Xavi confirming he will step down as manager at the end of the season.
A bid from the Premier League could also be useful to Barcelona, as they have serious financial issues currently handicapping them across the board.
Spanish outlet Sport claim that Spurs have made a £60m bid, and Barca are willing to accept in order to recoup some much-needed funds.
The club will need the additional money if they are to turn Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix’s loan moves into permanent deals at the end of the season, as well as abiding by financial rules, and covering the day-to-day costs of running the club.
Spurs signed Brennan Johnson for £47.5m last summer, and also completed the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus after an 18-month loan spell, so Ange Postecoglou is certainly not short of options in that position on the right-hand side of attack.
The North London club also have Heung-min Son, Richarlison and Timo Werner in the squad who are capable of playing across the frontline.
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The bid may therefore come as a surprise to Liverpool, who the report states have Raphinha on their shortlist of options to replace Mohamed Salah if he was to leave in the summer.
Liverpool rejected an offer of £150m for Salah last summer from Saudi Arabia, but with the news that Jurgen Klopp will depart at the end of the season, the Egyptian’s time at the club may also be coming to an end.
Salah will enter the final year of his contract at the end of this current season and the Saudi Pro League are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of big-name players across the world.
A Liverpool without Salah has become a reality over the past month due to the Africa Cup of Nations, and a subsequent injury to the 32-year-old, so the club may be planning ahead with no natural successor currently within the squad.
Johan Bakayoko is another right-winger who has been linked with Liverpool, but they are reportedly in a battle with title rivals Manchester City over his signature.
