Jordan: Chelsea can ‘knock Arsenal and Barcelona to one side’ to sign Raphinha

Simon Jordan believes Chelsea’s pursuit of Leeds United star Raphinha has underlined the club’s financial clout.

Arsenal have also been linked with the Brazilian, as have Barcelona.

But reports suggest Chelsea are on course to take him to Stamford Bridge in a £60m deal.


Speaking on Talksport, former Crystal Palace owner Jordan said: “Barcelona have challenges economically and have to do things slightly differently to how they might have in the past.

“Chelsea are in the box seat of being in the Champions League. If Chelsea want to come to the table with that kind of money, they are going to knock people like Arsenal and Barcelona to one side for the time being.

“If Arsenal are in the 30, 40 or 50-million-pound bracket and Chelsea come straight over the top at 60, you can say ‘Is this effective management? Is it over-spending? Or is it just deciding, for this moment in time while I establish the way Chelsea are going to go going forward, I’m going to deal these deals and get them done’.”

Chelsea are also looking to sign Raheem Sterling and his Manchester City team-mate Nathan Ake.

“I think these are decent signings. Whether they are signings to rival Manchester City and Liverpool, well that’s the 64-million-dollar question,” Jordan said.