Raphinha to Liverpool? Barcelona could consider a swap deal for the star winger

Raphinha has been one of Barcelona's most impactful players under Hansi Flick

FC Barcelona could be willing to offer their star winger Raphinha in order to sign Liverpool FC’s star winger Luis Díaz. Barcelona’s interest in Díaz has been circling the transfer market since the beginning of December, as Hansi Flick is reportedly now looking for a proper left-winger. 

Raphinha’s brilliant start to the season resulted in Barça’s strong start to the season as well. The Catalan giants led the La Liga points table up until mid-December while also becoming the only team, alongside Liverpool, to secure a place in the RO16 of the UEFA Champions League before game week 7 this season. However, since mid-December, Barça have experienced an unexpected turnaround in the league. They have dropped down to 3rd place now, finding themselves 5 points behind the current leaders, Real Madrid. Barcelona picked up only 4 points from the 4 league matches they played in December, causing them to give away their lead in the title race.

Raphinha is also going through an underwhelming patch, having scored only 3 goals since the beginning of December. The drop in Barcelona’s form seems to have also impacted Raphinha’s performances. Or is it the other way around?

Raphinha’s Importance to Flick’s Barcelona

Raphinha has been Barça’s star performer this season. The Brazilian winger has scored 17 goals and provided 8 assists across all competitions. Traditionally being a right-winger, the arrival of Hansi Flick saw Raphinha being shifted to the left flank in order to allow the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to play on the right. Despite the shift, Raphinha excelled out of position. The free role allowed Raphinha to position himself throughout the pitch in the attacking third, making marking extremely difficult for the opposition.

With his pace and ability on the ball, he was able to consistently score goals, making darting runs in behind the defense through either of the wings as well as the centre. The strong impact of Raphinha’s free role was best seen in his stunning displays against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in October, in which the winger recorded a combined G/A of 5. Therefore, it is fair to say that Raphinha’s performances have a direct impact on the team’s overall performance.

Why are Barcelona targeting Luis Díaz?

Liverpool’s star winger Luis Díaz has also been one of the best players in Europe this season. The Colombian has been thriving under the new manager, Arne Slot. Díaz’s performances might’ve been overlooked by many because of his “on-fire” teammate Mohamed Salah, who is having an absolutely phenomenal season. However, Díaz has also been exceptional this season, having registered a G/A of 14 in 26 games in all competitions. His performances, particularly in big games, have made him an integral part of Arne Slot’s game plan.

One of the most impressive aspects of Díaz’s performance this season has been his versatility. The Colombian started the current campaign operating from the left flank, which is his natural position. However, since Cody Gakpo became a regular starter for Slot, Díaz has been deployed as centre-forward, with Gakpo playing on the left. Despite the sudden change in position, the Colombian winger continued to put up strong displays on a regular basis for the Reds.

Luis Díaz’s abilities make him a very sought-after player. Incredible dribbling ability, matched-up pace, creativity, and a devastating eye for goal make him a complete winger. Díaz is the kind of player that Barcelona have been targeting since last summer. They also showed a strong interest in Nico Williams last summer, who has a similar style of play.

Could a Swap Deal Actually Happen?

While both players remain crucial assets for their respective clubs, Díaz has hinted recently that he might be willing to join Barcelona in the summer by rejecting a contract extension with the Reds. Díaz has a contract at Anfield that runs until the summer of 2027; therefore, by rejecting an extension, it looks like the Colombian is keeping his options open, with Barcelona ready to knock on his door. 

However, despite the mutual interest, it would be a difficult task for the Catalans to sign one of Liverpool’s most crucial assets at the moment. According to transfermarkt.com, Díaz’s current market value is €85m, which means that Barça would have to offer at least €100m to try and persuade Liverpool. However, with Barça’s current financial condition, this seems like an impossible task. Therefore, offering Raphinha as part of a swap deal might be one of their only solutions in order to sign Luis Díaz in the upcoming summer transfer window.