Chelsea, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal or whoever else fancies a go at the 11th hour. Raphinha’s Leeds United transfer saga is surely entering its endgame.
As his appointment with Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport looms, the Brazil international has to be twisting Deco’s arm for a decision. Chelsea may have flashed the most cash so far, but this is a narrative which seems to change by the phone call.
Assuming this does not rumble on for several more weeks, cutting into valuable recruitment time of their own, Leeds can only benefit from the jostling to buy Raphinha’s signature. The bidding should end up beyond £60m and leave the Whites with a healthy kitty.
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When the Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha fees are combined, Leeds will see their coffers boosted by more than £100m. That’s a major injection of cash and its reinvestment is critical for the prospects of United in the forthcoming campaign.
A midfielder, winger and striker will be on the shopping list once Raphinha’s transfer is dealt with. Victor Orta knows he has to replace quality with quality in this side if they are to sail well clear of last term’s 17th-placed finish.
This is the business model Andrea Radrizzani has advertised on many occasions, the Leicester City approach. The talent has been homegrown or recruited, polished, honed and sold for big profits.
The next phase is beginning that cycle again, finding more value in the market and trying, against all the odds, to find someone else of Raphinha’s quality for less than £20m. The football world knows Leeds have this money burning a hole in their pocket, however.
The transfer rumours are only going in one direction. Agents and clubs will use Leeds to their advantage in the market. More names and more bids to move transfers in their own favour.
Aside from the spurious stories linking Leeds with every man and his Palm Angels sliders, Orta must be wary of prices rising when he calls. As is the case with any clubs known to be looking to spend, it can be easy for sellers to push up their premiums.
Release clauses will be the director of football’s friend, but when it comes to outright negotiations on prices, Orta has to know when Leeds are being taken advantage of.
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