Barcelona's Rafinha a target for Real Betis and Benfica | OneFootball

Real Betis hope to sign Barcelona midfielder Rafinha before the transfer window closes on Friday, but it seems they could have some competition.

Spanish outlet AS report that Rafinha heads a list of targets Betis are hoping to bring to Estadio Benito Villamarín in the coming days but the 25-year-old’s €25m price-tag is currently proving a stumbling block in negotiations.

A season-long loan with a compulsory purchase clause included has not been ruled out, but there’s a possibility Benfica could jump to the front of the queue by making a straight cash offer.

That is likely to depend on whether the Portuguese giants qualify for the Champions League, however. Rui Vitória’s side face PAOK away in the second leg of their qualifying tie on Wednesday, with the score level at 1-1 on aggregate from the first leg.

The offer of Champions League football this season would certainly be attractive to Rafinha, who seems to have accepted he is now surplus to requirements at Camp Nou.

The Brazil international spent the second half of last season on loan at Inter Milan and was left out of the Barça squad which won 1-0 away at Real Valladolid on Saturday night.