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Chelsea need a winger | Manchester United via Getty Imag
Chelsea could now move for a winger they have previously targeted after a transfer development.
Chelsea should now consider signing a target of the past after missing out on one of the best wingers in world football. The Blues are on the lookout for a new winger - among players in other positions - this summer as they look to build on their top four finish last season.
Enzo Maresca will want to make a good run of it in the Champions League while also taking a step towards winning the Premier League title, even if his side don’t end up going all the way. Significant spending is going to be required to pull that off, with Chelsea needing to strengthen in a number of different areas, including out wide and at centre-back, while it also appears as though Maresca wants another striker despite already signing Liam Delap this summer.
The news will delight Barca fans, but it might not delight Raphinha, who has been in excellent form for the Blaugrana over the last year and more, helping to fire them to La Liga glory last season. The Brazilian scored 34 times and provided 25 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions in the season just gone, and you would be hard pressed to find a winger with a better record.
Raphinha almost joined Chelsea prior to deciding on Barcelona, once revealing: “I rejected Chelsea because my dream was to wear the Barcelona shirt. I talked to Neymar about a move and he told me that if I get to Barcelona then I won't regret and he was right.”
Despite his fine form, Raphinha could well now be the number three winger at Barcelona, and that could provide Chelsea with the opportunity to land an elite winger this summer. Barcelona would reportedly demand around £77million to sell the winger, though, and that would make things difficult. Although signing a goal-scoring winger would take the pressure of landing a pricey striker.
Raphinha and Flick
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has spoken very highly of Raphinha, telling TNT Sports Brasil towards the end of last year: "He’s [Raphinha] unbelievable because he’s always 100% very focused and gives us a lot of strength in the defense, but also in the offence.He’s always the player who starts the dynamic to press, but also when we have space, he started in the right moment in these spaces, and it helps us a lot.
"He also always smiles; this is what I like the most, he’s always positive, and it’s important for him to be positive, this is the big thing – then you have confidence to give 100% on the pitch."
Raphinha has said of the German boss in an interview with DAZN: “The truth is, for me, it changed practically everything. As I’ve said on other occasions in interviews, I was leaving the club before the season even started. The manager was incredibly important in my change of mind, in my ability to stay at the club.
"He gives me all the confidence possible to do everything I’m doing. For me, as I’ve said, it’s changed everything. It’s practically changed my career. I’m having my best, my best career since I started in football, and I owe it all to him."
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