Arsenal are set to play Leeds United on Sunday afternoon, and claiming all three points will be crucial for Arsenal’s Champions League push.
There is an extra incentive to get the win as it could help the Gunners to save £50m in the summer transfer window.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Raphinha has a clause in his contract that if Leeds gets relegated, he will be available for £25m. but if they survive in the Premier League, his release clause is £75m. With only four games remaining in the Premier League for Arsenal and Leeds, a win will be pivotal for their targets, but a loss could prove detrimental.
The possibility of signing Raphinha for such a cheap deal should give the Gunners an extra incentive to claim the win.
Leeds currently sits two points above the relegation zone in seventeenth place, but Everton have a game in hand are only one place behind them.
On Sunday, a win for Arsenal could see the Whites move into the drop zone.
CHECK THIS OUT
It would have seemed bizarre for Arsenal to be linked with the Brazilian because the Gunners already have two left-footed wingers who are strongest on the right-hand side in Bukayo Saka and Pepe.
The Ivorian has seriously struggled for game time at the Emirates this season.
Pepe’s future is uncertain at the club as, according to the Evening Standard, Arsenal will sit down with the winger and his agent at the end of the season to discuss his future.
The winger has two years left on his deal and is expected to leave in the summer.
The north London side needs to decide whether to keep or sell Pepe at the end of the season, as he enters the territory of having less than three years left on his contract.
Keeping him beyond two years remaining on his contract will massively debunk his value and increase the threat of losing him on a free transfer which would be an absolute nightmare considering his £72m price tag.
The Ivorian joined the club in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72m from Lille with the highest of expectations due to his success in Ligue 1, but has only contributed with 27 goals and 17 assists.
If the Gunners were to sell Pepe at the end of the season, then a backup for Saka would certainly be needed.
Despite the excellent performances the Englishman has shown for Arsenal throughout the season, there has been times when he has shown signs of burnout, so having someone who can help successfully share the attacking load would certainly be beneficial.
The Brazilian would be the perfect signing for the Gunners if Leeds were to get relegated.
Costing just £25m, he would easily show that he is value for money.
Since joining the Whites in 2020, Raphinha has been their main threat, which is a major reason why he received recognition from the Brazilian national team.
He has also attracted interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
A win for Arsenal against Leeds on Sunday will be a major victory in their hopes of achieving a top-four place.
The possibility of securing a bargain price deal for Raphinha could make it a double win for the Gunners.