West Ham United want to sign Barcelona winger Raphinha in the summer transfer window with the La Liga giants struggling financially, according to HITC.
Writing on their website (16 February), the news outlet report that the Catalan giants have put the former Leeds winger up for sale as they look to trim their squad down due to their widely-known financial problems.
There are a host of clubs interested in the Brazilian though, including West Ham, with a saga set to play out over the summer transfer window.
“HITC Football understands that Barcelona, who’s financial issues have been well-documented over the last few years, are looking to trim down their expensively-assembled squad again this summer with forwards Raphinha and Ferran Torres two of those made those available for transfer,” they wrote.
“Raphinha appears to have the greater number of admirers as things stand, however, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and West Ham all keeping tabs on a player who was Leeds’ stand-out performer during his two top-flight campaigns.”
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West Ham can go up a level
The summer transfer window is going to be a massive one in east London for sure with the future of David Moyes very much up in the air, making it difficult for plans to be made.
Tim Steidten was seemingly in charge of transfers last year but clashes with Moyes made things difficult and eventually deals only got done late in the window.
If decisions are made earlier on in the process this time then it could improve the club’s chances to get deals like this over the line, and Steidten has proven to be good at doing that.
Raphinha is the type of signing that fans would love to see come into the club, and he could really help West Ham jump up to another level with the quality he has in the final third. He has also previously been interested in a move to the London Stadium.
With the potential of Lucas Paqueta leaving due to his release clause becoming active, this could be an ideal replacement and a great addition to the squad if the club can move quickly enough to beat the competition to his singature.
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