26-year-old who left Leeds in 2022 now targeted for huge move to Manchester City

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Manchester City are interested in signing former Leeds United winger Raphinha from Barcelona.

That is according to Foot Mercato, who reports the two clubs have already been in contact over a move this week with City having earmarked him as a https://theathletic.com/4695914/2023/07/17/mahrez-saudi-arabia-transfer-man-city/replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who could be on his way to Saudi Arabia.

Raphinha only made the move to Barcelona 12 months ago following a long-rumbling saga that saw Leeds eventually secure a fee in excess of £50 million for his services.

Despite a decent first season at the Camp Nou, Barca are open to selling him this summer due to their ongoing financial issues which have hamstrung them in the market.

Barca are in need of making a big sale and given Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres’ reluctance to leave, Raphinha could be the man to makeway.

Man City target move for former Leeds winger Raphinha

As per Foot Mercato, Barcelona must find £52 million in order to register new signings Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez and Oriol Romeu, and Raphinha could be the man to do that.

Pep Guardiola is said to be a big fan of the 26-year-old, who has already demonstrated his Premier League pedigree at Leeds, where he enjoyed two excellent seasons.

During his time at Elland Road, he netted 17 goals and provided 12 assists in 67 matches, with his contribution at the end of the 2021/22 campaign almost single-handedly keeping Leeds in the Premier League.

Should he secure a move, Raphinha would be joining arguably the best team in the world having won the treble last season.

At this stage, it remains unclear what Raphinha’s preference would be, particularly given Barcelona has always been his dream move.