Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca identifies Barcelona star as 'top priority' signing to play alongside Cole Palmer next season: Reports

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has reportedly identified Barcelona attacker Raphinha as a potential partner for Cole Palmer in his starting lineup.

Raphinha, who was heavily inked with the Blues in 2022, has been in good form for Barcelona this season. The 27-year-old has scored 16 goals and recorded 10 assists in just 22 matches across competitions for the Catalan outfit.

Now, according to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Maresca is a huge admirer of the former Leeds United man. He is aiming to start the Brazil international alongside Palmer in his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup in the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Barcelona, on the other hand, are unwilling to negotiate their player's potential transfer away from the team. They are not in need to sell due to their improving financial situation and rate the left-footed winger at around £75 million.

Should Raphinha secure a permanent move to Chelsea next summer, he could prove to be a stellar signing for them. He would boast valuable Premier League experience and would start ahead of Noni Madueke on the right flank.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer receives big praise

Earlier on Sunday (December 8), the Blues came back from two goals behind to register a 4-3 Premier League triumph at Tottenham Hotspur. Cole Palmer converted two penalties in the second half of the encounter in north London.

After the end of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher showered huge praise on Palmer. He told Sky Sports:

"I loved him last season, he's started this season really well, and I think I made a comment a few weeks ago that if you look at his almost 18 months at Chelsea, I don't think there's been a player in the Premier League who's performed better than him over these 18 months and he hasn't been playing for the best team; I mean, they look like one of the best teams in the league right now."

Carragher, who represented Liverpool 737 times as a player, added:

"I think the way he's going, if he can take Chelsea to a title, whether it's this season or the next two or three seasons, he's going to go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for them if he keeps doing what he's doing. He is a very, very special player, not just in the Premier League – in European or world football."

Since leaving Manchester City in a potential £42.5 million deal in 2023, Palmer has registered 36 goals and 21 assists in 62 overall club games.