Barcelona winger Raphinha “could be available for £80m” this summer, with Liverpool among the Premier League clubs keeping tabs on his situation, according to reports.

The Brazilian international has been in outstanding form this season, having scored 30 goals and provided 23 assists in 48 appearances.

However, Raphinha is closing in on the final two years of his contract and TBRFootball claim that there is a chance that Barca could offload him to balance the books.

It is believed that the Reds, Chelsea and Arsenal are being kept informed about his future in view to making a move for the 28-year-old over the coming months.

Raphinha has been backed for the Ballon d’Or

While many Liverpool fans will be hoping that Mo Salah is given the award at the end of the year, Thierry Henry believes that Raphinha’s exploits in the Champions League makes him the favourite:

“Raphinha is ahead, for me, now. Yes, yes, he is ahead because of what he is doing in the Champions League. He’s on 11 goals in the Champions League. Mo Salah is a great contender for it, Kane is a contender as we’ve spoken. Dembele, it depends.”

“In the year of the Champions League, if you perform, on top of winning your league, you obviously are going to have a call there.”

Two factors would count against the Brazilian moving to Liverpool

While the Reds have reportedly scouted Raphinha in past seasons, the fact that he will be 29 at the end of this year means there would be no sell-on value if they bought him.

Combined with the fact that Salah, who plays in his position, has signed a new contract keeping him at Anfield for another two seasons, it suggests there wouldn’t be any room for the winger in Arne Slot’s squad anyway.

The Merseysiders are expected to be in the market for one or two forwards, with the likes of Darwin Nunez and (potentially) Luis Diaz set to leave, but they are unlikely to target Raphinha.

Click here to see Liverpool’s first team squad for the 2024/25 season