Chelsea Eyeing Barcelona Star as Potential Hazard Successor

Despite already having a wealth of attacking talent, Chelsea are reportedly looking to further bolster their offensive options this summer. According to recent reports, the London club have set their sights on Barcelona’s Brazilian winger Raphinha.

Chelsea are said to be “huge admirers” of Raphinha and believe he could be available for around £80 million. However, they may face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, who are also monitoring the situation.

Raphinha has been in scintillating form this season, notching an impressive 30 goals and 23 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. His performances have been particularly eye-catching in the Champions League, where he leads all players with 19 goal contributions.

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has even suggested Raphinha could be a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or based on his displays this campaign. The Brazilian’s underlying statistics are equally impressive, ranking him among the top performers in Europe’s top five leagues for key attacking metrics.

If Chelsea were able to secure Raphinha’s signature, there’s a belief he could become their most impactful attacking player since Eden Hazard’s departure. The Belgian was a talismanic figure at Stamford Bridge, contributing 110 goals and 85 assists during his time with the club.

While it would be a tall order to replicate Hazard’s influence, Raphinha certainly has the quality to make a significant impact. His potential arrival would be a major statement of intent from Chelsea as they look to challenge for top honors next season.