Chelsea will hold talks with Raphinha's agent Deco today as they press to finalise the Leeds winger's signing and head off any late threat from Barcelona.
The club have offered a five year deal worth around £118,000 a week and agreed a £55m fee plus add-ons with Leeds as they look to secure their first signing of the window.
Thomas Tuchel's side are pressing to finalise the move after Deco was spotted in Barcelona on Wednesday to see if the Spanish side, Raphinha's preferred club, can finance a rival offer.
It was announced on Tuesday that talks were advancing after Leeds accepted a bid for Raphinha, with former Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Deco at the heart of negotiations.
However, the west London side are urgent to get a deal over the line after the Brazilian's agent was seen outside the Nou Camp with club chiefs Rafa Yuste, Mateu Alemany, Enric Masip and president Joan Laporta.
Despite Tuchel's side being close to an agreement, Raphinha's preferred destination would be Barcelona and his agent is doing everything he can to explore that option.
Earlier this week, the Blues gatecrashed Arsenal's bid to sign Raphinha from Leeds after the Gunners had been in pursuit of the Brazilian.
On a frantic day, Arsenal held talks with Leeds after their initial offer of £30m plus add-ons was rejected last week and put forward a new proposal but they did not come close to Chelsea's offer and the Brazilian winger is now poised to move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea plan to team Raphinha with Raheem Sterling in a new-look strikeforce as they continue parallel discussions with Manchester City over a £55m deal for the England international.
dennisachafu
35
Chelsea should better forget about this Raphina if his mind is somewhere else .Imagine how big club like Chelsea is willing to sign a player from Leeds united, instead of him to be happy he's saying that he wants Barca. OK let him pay the money and go there. There are other better players out there. Chelsea should forget about him.
siyaklnot
9
Chelsea please let him be. We need a proven players not this half-baked one who doesn't know what he wants. Another Lukaku is loading o and be warned. They all want to go to Barca not knowing that Barca is no longer Barca but battered living in past glory. It will take up to 10yrs before parity is restored to Barca. An organization that owes over £1b, if is a lie they should ask one of their own in person of Pep and he will tell them how big £1b is cause he had spent over that at City. Am only trying to remind all those who care to know.