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Arsenal want to sign two FC Barcelona stars in the summer
According to Fichajes, Arsenal are planning a double raid on Barcelona, which may bring forwards Ferran Torres and Raphinha to the Emirates. Apparently, the two could leave Catalonia in the summer.
In order to compete, the Gunners could benefit from adding talent to their attack. Mikel Arteta hasn’t been able to rotate his wingers, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, as much as he should due to a lack of options. However, with this double Barca transfer raid, that may be a thing of the past.
Raphinha, 27, may be an astute signing. He can play on either wing and is a player Arsenal are familiar with. Before leaving Leeds for Barcelona in a £50 million deal, it was claimed that the Gunners had almost signed the South American, but he chose to move to Camp Nou instead.
The ex-Premier League winger has been decent at Barcelona, with 15 goals and 20 assists in 74 appearances, but some believe he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Ferran Torres, 24, has also performed well for Barcelona since joining them from Manchester City. Despite occasional injuries, he has proven useful for the La Liga giants, scoring 25 goals and assisting 13 times in 103 games. Arteta is (as per Fichajes) said to value Torres’ skills and versatility, as the former Barcelona player can also play as a striker in addition to a winger.
£73m Arsenal transfer opportunity
Torres is valued at around £30m while Raphinha is valued at around £43m, so it could cost approximately £73m to sign the pair. They are two top-quality players but Barcelona’s difficult financial situation means they may be forced to sell this summer and Arsenal could take advantage.
According to Fichajes, Barcelona have apparently placed a “for sale” sign on Raphinha and Torres in the hopes of bringing in some much-needed funds.
Of course, other clubs should be in the transfer mix, but the fact that a Spanish outlet took the time to publish about the Gunners’ interest without name-dropping another club could be significant.
If it goes through, this double raid will undoubtedly have the potential to elevate Arsenal’s attack to new heights. With Torres and Raphinha added to the squad, Arsenal could have the depth needed to compete on all fronts next season.
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