Leeds United winger Raphinha won’t be a Whites player after the summer transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Raphinha continues to shine
Marcelo Bielsa’s side may have struggled in the Premier League this season but Raphinha has stood out as arguably his team’s best player.
The £63,000-a-week winger has scored eight goals and registered two assists in the league, and while his form has dipped a little of late, Leeds could be in serious trouble without him.
Raphinha has been linked with a move away from the Whites, with the 25-year-old potentially looking for a fresh challenge at a club pushing for European football.
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The Latest: Journalist backs summer exit for Raphinha
Transfer insider Jones believes that Raphinha will move on from Leeds in the summer, claiming that the Brazil international’s exit from Elland Road seems inevitable.
He told GiveMeSport: “It’s pretty clear in my mind that Raphinha won’t be at Leeds next season anyway.”
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The Verdict: Inevitable for Whites?
Unfortunately, there seems to be an inevitability about Raphinha leaving at the end of the season, with players sometimes reaching a natural conclusion at a club. Hopefully he stays put, but his current body language suggests that his mind may be elsewhere.
He may feel he belongs at a club playing in the Champions League or Europa League, and given his performances for club and country – he has scored twice in his first five caps for Brazil – it is hard to disagree too much.
Should Raphinha demand a move away in the summer, it is essential that Leeds receive an enormous fee for him and use the funds wisely on new signings, improving the all-round depth within Bielsa’s squad and offsetting the loss of the Brazilian’s goals and assists.
In other news, an injury expert has provided a key Leeds update. Read more here.