There are some Newcastle United-based transfer rumours that tend to linger on and on until something definitive happens - it's usually that they sign for someone else.
One of the longest-running transfer rumours connected to Newcastle currently is that of the Magpies' interest in Barcelona winger Raphinha.
The Brazil international has been wanted be Newcastle since he was at Leeds United before his dream move to Spain.
Yet despite that move, Newcastle have been linked with Raphinha in every transfer window since.
It did take a while for the 27-year-old to find his groove at Barcelona, and indeed it has only really been this season where he has hit is stride.
Indeed, it was just a couple of days ago we reported that Hansi Flick is now fighting to keep him at the club and Ferran Torres has been placed on the transfer list instead.
However, former Leeds United man Paul Robinson has told Football Insider he is 'hearing whispers' that Raphinha could return to the Premier League and namechecked Newcastle in doing so.
These whispers are probably just the endless reports of Newcastle's interest, but Robinson does have connections within the game so he may have heard something legitimate.
“I saw what he can do at Leeds and I’ve heard whispers of a Premier League return.
“I think that’s a summer move. He’s a player who will attract Premier League interest.
“He’s 27 years old and he’s still got a lot of football left, he’s spent two years at Barcelona now and let’s not forget his caps for Brazil.
“The main thing I see with Raphina is how hard-working he is and his work ethic off the ball.
“He’s got quality on the ball, with his vision and his delivery and quality in the final third.
“But he’s got that edge, he’s not afraid to put his foot in.
“He’s a player who can enhance Newcastle’s starting XI without a shadow of a doubt.”
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
15 | -8 | 18 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
15 | -15 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |