RAPHINHA will not be leaving Barcelona this summer, ruling out the possibility of the former Leeds United winger moving to St James’ Park.

Newcastle’s recruitment team have been finalising their list of targets in the last week or so, with Eddie Howe keen to sign another wide attacker this summer.

Raphinha had been touted as a potential option, with the 26-year-old having struggled to make an impact during his first season at the Nou Camp.

Having joined Barcelona from Leeds last summer, Raphinha made 24 league starts as his Catalan employers claimed the La Liga title this season.

He was in and out of Xavi Hernandez’s starting side for most of the campaign, leading to speculation that he could be allowed to move on this summer in order to raise funds for Barcelona’s incoming transfer business.

The Newcastle hierarchy were interested in the Brazilian last summer, while Arsenal made an inquiry about a possible deal during the January transfer window.

Both clubs have been heavily linked with a new move for Raphinha in this summer’s window, but Xavi has ruled out any possibility of the winger leaving Barcelona.

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“Raphinha is not on the market,” said Xavi, whose club have been linked with a potential blockbuster deal for their former forward Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris St Germain. “He’s staying at Barcelona and will help us a lot. He’s a crucial player for me, and a really important player – he makes the difference.”

Newcastle have been linked with a possible move for Messi in a number of quarters in the last few weeks, but like a number of the more fanciful transfer links that have cropped up since the Magpies were taken over by Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed ownership group, there is no chance of the club pursuing the 35-year-old.

Messi’s wages are way above Newcastle’s financial ceiling, and the club are adamant they will not be recruiting ‘big-name’ players who do not fit the plan Howe is enacting on Tyneside.

That said, however, Howe has admitted there is a good chance of a ‘marquee signing’ arriving at St James’ Park this summer as Newcastle look to strengthen their squad.

“There would be players we’d love to bring in that would be classified in that bracket (a marquee signing), I’m sure,” said the Magpies head coach. “For me, it’s more about the role they can fulfil in the team. Whether that’s viewed positively or as a marquee signing, then great.

“I’m not in my mind thinking, ‘We have to have one of those players that ticks that box for the supporters’. As much as I’d love to do that, it’s about finding the right player in the right position who I think makes us better.”