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Arsenal are reported to be closing in on a deal for Leeds United winger Raphinha.
The Brazilian was the top scorer for Leeds United last season, providing 11 goals in 35 games which helped keep the South Yorkshire side in the Premier League.
That has seen him attract the notice of clubs across Europe, and has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.
However, the Catalan club’s complicated finances mean that they are unable to meet Leeds’ £43 million valuation of the player, and that has seen Arsenal move ahead in the race it sign him.
For his part, Raphinha is reported to have grown tired of Barcelona’s procrastination, wants his future settled, and now wants to move to North London.
A deal could be wrapped up in the coming days.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.