According to Record, as cited by Football.London, Chelsea are interested in the services of Raphinha. The Blues’ scouts were in attendance during Sporting CP’s 2-1 win over Portimonense, when the Brazilian winger scored the opener. However, Chelsea could face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Leicester City, who were also monitoring Raphinha.
Raphinha’s rise in stock at Sporting CP
Raphinha initially moved to Sporting CP last summer, in a €6.5 million move from Vitoria Guimaraes SC. The Brazilian was coming on the back of a successful 2017/18 campaign that saw him bag 15 goals in 32 matches in the Liga NOS.
Raphinha failed to replicate his performances at Sporting, however, scoring only four goals and providing four assists. But, it’s fair to point out that the 22-year-old wasn’t a first-team regular, getting only 16 starts and mustering just over 1,500 minutes of league football. He also suffered an injury that kept him out for almost two months.
That being said, the ex-Avai prodigy has started this campaign on a positive note, having scored two goals in three matches. So it’s needless to say that he is going to become a key component in the Sporting CP attack this season.
What can he bring to the table?
A right-winger by trade, Raphinha is an explosive attacker, who loves to cut-inside and provide dangerous balls into the box. He has an excellent burst of pace that allows him to drift past defenders while he can also play quick one-twos with teammates in the final third. However, what makes the 22-year-old such a unique winger is his knack for scoring goals.
Indeed, Raphinha loves to get inside the box or make runs in behind the defence that lets him occupy a scoring position. He can also shrug off defenders – making him a well-rounded winger.
Is Raphinha a viable option for Chelsea?
Raphinha has already shown that he is capable of emerging as one of Liga NOS’ best wingers. He also has the skillset and talent to become a quality player. However, a lot will depend on how he performs with Sporting CP this season.
As for Chelsea, they are in desperate need of reinforcements in the attacking department. And we can expect the Blues to go big next summer. But, even if Raphinha excels this season, it would perhaps be wiser for Frank Lampard to invest in a more proven and experienced star.
Someone like Leroy Sane or even Jadon Sancho could make a lot of sense. In the meantime, they must monitor the development of Raphinha this season.
