Barcelona 'will now have to pay DOUBLE for Raphinha'

Raphinha's decisive second half penalty at Brentford that kept Leeds United in the Premier League looks to have made his move to Barcelona more complicated, it has been reported.

The Catalan club are said to be extremely keen on bringing the Brazilian to the club, with reports suggesting that a deal had been agreed between the player's agent, Deco, and Barcelona.

However, that deal, Sport claim had been easy to complete owing to a relegation clause installed in Raphinha's contract.

The Brazilian's impressive second half display therefore looks to have made what many believe to be his desired move more difficult.

The Spanish publication say that Barcelona, on the orders of manager Xavi Hernandez, had been ready and willing to pay the £21m it would have taken to get Raphinha to the club.

With Leeds safe in the Premier League for another year, however, that price has now reportedly doubled to £40m.

Barcelona's financial troubles are well documented, with their astronomical wage bill and debts meaning for every £4m they save, they can spend £1m.

This leaves the club hamstrung in the market unless they get rid of players, meaning the extra £20m that has reportedly been added to Raphinha's value could prove a stumbling block.

It had been reported on Friday by Mundo Deportivo that Raphinha's move to Barcelona was dependent on the future of Ousmane Dembele, who is free to leave the club on a free transfer next month but the club are continuing to push for him to sign a new deal.

Barcelona are pushing for new signings but their financial might is not what it once was. It has been reported a number of times in the past month that Frenkie de Jong could be one of those sacrificed to ensure funds are available for elsewhere in the team.

Robert Lewandowski is said to remain a target of the club, with both the club's hierarchy and its fans wishing to see the arrival of at least one superstar this summer.

Bernardo Silva has also been touted. As Sport's reporting suggests, however, the club's ambitions and the reality of its financial situation do not appear to have quite coordinated themselves this summer.