In a recent report, The Athletic mentioned that Chelsea are in pole position to land Leeds United winger Raphinha. It has been claimed that the Blues are getting closer to agreeing on a fee for the Brazilian sensation as they try to improve their squad by recruiting him this summer.
Raphinha’s Impressive Numbers At Elland Road Last Season
Raphinha had a campaign of mixed emotions with Leeds in the previous campaign but still managed to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League. The talented winger made 36 appearances for the Whites last season, finding the back of the net on 11 occasions and picking up three assists across all fronts.
The South American wide player caught the eye by averaging 1.5 tackles, 2.5 shots, 1.9 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League football. However, he needs to improve his link-up play in the attacking third of the pitch after completing 69.3% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Is Raphinha The Right Choice For Chelsea Boss Thomas Tuchel?
Raphinha is an excellent dribbler with the ball and has got the eye to play a decisive pass in the attacking end of the field. The Brazilian wing wizard can create space for himself to get a few shots in on-target. He can even contribute by scoring his fair share of goals from the wide areas and is versatile enough to play as a winger on either flank if needed.
Therefore, it makes sense for Chelsea to recruit him as he will add more pace and goals to Thomas Tuchel’s frontline. The 25-year-old will only get better in the coming seasons which makes him a decent choice for the West London giants in this off-season.
Raphinha will no doubt enhance the quality of Tuchel’s attacking department at Stamford Bridge. However, only time will tell whether he can be a prolific goal-scorer for a top club like Chelsea.
Still, the pros outweigh the cons of signing the Brazilian winger as he could definitely help the Blues compete for a few major trophies over the next few years.
