Manchester City will undergo significant changes in the summer after becoming European champions. They have already lost captain Ilkay Gundogan, who moved to Barcelona as a free agent, while the fate of Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, and Riyad Mahrez is uncertain. At the moment, the Algerian is close to going to Saudi Arabia (from where an offer between 20,000,000 and 35,000,000 is expected for the 32-year-old), the outcome of that transfer saga would influence Manchester City to look for a replacement for their right wing in Barcelona.The well-informed transfer expert Santi Aouna from the French Footmercato reports that the Cityzens have targeted Raphinha and that the sporting director of the English club, Txiki Begiristain, and one of the main operatives of the Spanish club, Deco, are in contact about the Brazilian, who a year ago Barça cashed out 58,500,000 euros for. It was Deco who was the key link in last year’s transfer of Raphinha from Leeds.🚨 Manchester City are eyeing a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha if Riyad Mahrez leaves for Saudi Arabia. Txiki Begiristain and Deco have already been in contact this week. Barcelona are willing to listen to any offer. 🇧🇷(Source: @Santi_J_FM) pic.twitter.com/UlXnIAMeEC— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 19, 2023 According to the exclusive information of the aforementioned French media, the champion of Spain is ready to listen to offers for their attacker, and how could they not be when the registration of certain players is threatened due to financial problems in the club. An influx of fresh capital is urgently needed, and it could be brought into Barcelona’s account by a guy who didn’t do that good in his debut season, but with a few bombastic moments he still delivered respectable numbers – 10 goals and 12 assists in 50 games in all competitions.By August 31, Barcelona need a 60,000,000 euros profit in order to be able to register the newly arrived footballers, among whom are Gundogan, Oriol Romeu and Inigo Martinez. However, due to the regulations in such situations, Barcelona would have to sell a few more players, since part of the compensation goes to regularize the financial books, and part to reinvesting in new players.##NAJAVA_MECA_7381345##The local Manchester Evening News reported yesterday that even though Mahrez leaves the Etihad, Guardiola will rely on Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, but the fact is that Foden is much more oriented to the left side of the field, and that even the promising Palmer does not have the characteristics of a classic winger. Therefore, the replacement would have to be a footballer of Raphinha’s caliber. The Brazilian showed in the Leeds shirt that he can play at the top level in the Premier League. He marked the season in the English elite immediately before his arrival in Barça with 11 goals and three assists to his name.
