An update has emerged on Tottenham's pursuit of Leeds forward Raphinha in the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
The Athletic's Adam Crafton has claimed that Spurs have a "genuine interest" in the winger as Fabio Paratici eyes multiple deals at the same time to ensure that the club do not end up missing out on adding in key areas.
In the accompanying article, it is reported that Leeds are open to cashing in on the Brazilian in the coming months and will not stand in his way if a reasonable offer comes in.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also said to be keen on the attacker, who the Whites signed for £17m in 2020, whilst Barcelona look set to be priced out of a deal that could cost around £47m.
Arjen Robben 2.0
By signing Raphinha, Tottenham can land their own version of former Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea phenomenon Arjen Robben.
The Dutch dynamo was renowned for being effective at cutting inside onto his left foot from the right wing and became a top player in Europe. Of his 209 career goals, 141 came via his left foot - from open play, penalties, and free-kicks.
These statistics show that he was lethal on his left whilst playing as a right-sided forward and that is what Raphinha has been for Leeds since making the move to England.
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In 65 Premier League appearances, the Brazilian has scored 17 goals for the Whites and a whopping 16 of them came via his left foot - mainly playing on the right of a front three. Journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor dubbed him "magic" and said that he "raises the temperature" by taking the ball onto his left foot.
Along with his being able to score goals, the 25-year-old wizard has proven that he can be a creative outlet out wide whilst performing consistently in the top flight.
As you can see in the graphic above, Raphinha regularly put chances on a plate for his teammates - creating almost two per match - but he was only rewarded with three assists for his efforts.
Now, imagine if he had the likes of Harry Kane, Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son to link up with in the final third.
He can take his game to the next level by playing Champions League football instead of being in a team battling against relegation as he will have teammates more capable of finishing off the chances he is able to create.
Antonio Conte would have his own version of Robben, scoring and creating goals on his left foot, if Paratici is able to beat Arsenal and Chelsea to the Brazil international's signature this summer and the Italian chief must now secure his services.