Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Norwich City - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - March 13, 2022 Leeds United's Raphinha REUTERS/Craig Brough EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Manchester United are unlikely to try to sign Raphinha in addition to Kalvin Phillips, journalist Samuel Luckhurst says.Â
The lowdown
Luckhurst reported earlier this month that Manchester United are working on a move for Phillips.
They intend to sign a new defensive midfielder and are ‘advancing’ in their swoop for the Englishman.
But the 20-times champions have also been linked with Raphinha, raising the prospect of a summer raid.
The Brazilian, who joined Leeds in September 2020 for a fee of £16.74million, has just over two years to run on his £63,500-per-week contract at Elland Road.
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The latest
A Red Devils supporter asked Luckhurst in a Manchester Evening News Q & A whether Raphinha could be a target in the right wing position.
“I suspect if they follow through with their interest in and work on Phillips then they won’t pilfer any more players from Leeds,” he replied.
The verdict
Unfortunately for Leeds, interest in Raphinha is still likely to come from multiple directions.
Indeed, Liverpool are said to be ‘exploring’ a potential move for the 25-year-old, while the player’s agent, Deco, has already spoken to his client about possibly joining FC Barcelona (via Fabrizio Romano).
It’s inevitable that he’s become highly coveted, having scored ten goals and provided three assists this season for a side that’s in the Premier League’s bottom five. For reference, only one other player in the Leeds squad – Jack Harrison (11) – has reached double figures for goal involvements.
Raphinha also ranks in the division’s top eight for both successful dribbles and chances created per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).
Team-mate Dan James has billed him as a ‘magician‘, while former Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford has described him as ‘electric‘ – the only silver lining for supporters may be that his likely exit will seemingly not be to Old Trafford.
In other news, Pete O’Rourke has dropped this exciting Leeds transfer claim.
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