Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Tuesday, 29 March.
Akinfenwa’s Phillips claim
Adebayo Akinfenwa has labelled Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips as a ‘baller’ but thinks he must hit the ground running next season to get back in the England squad. Phillips has missed the last four months of the campaign due to a hamstring injury and as a result, was left out of the recent squad for the March internationals.
Phillips had been a staple of Gareth Southgate’s first-choice XI during 2021, starting every game at the EUROs and being voted the Three Lions’ player of the year. Speaking on Sky Sports, Akinfenwa believes that as long as the 26-year-old can stay fit between now and the World Cup, he should be on the plane to Qatar.
He said: “I think he’s a baller. I can only go off the players that have played. I know there will be a bit of next season to go. But, if we are going off now, then Phillips isn’t playing. That’s all I am going off. But that’s just off now. But he’s a baller and he comes back next season, then it’s a different conversation.”
READ MORE: Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips' England midfield rivals ahead of 2022 World Cup campaign
Raphinha interest confirmed
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has all but confirmed the club’s interest in Leeds United winger Raphinha after name-checking him in an interview with RAC1. The Catalan side have been heavily linked with a summer move for Raphinha in recent days with some reports suggesting that personal terms between the two parties are already close to being agreed.
Barcelona will likely have to pay around £62 million for the Brazilian if Leeds remain in the Premier League and in an interview last night, Laporta confirmed that they like Raphinha and his agent Deco is a key part of the club.
He said: "Raphinha, on the other hand, is a great player. We have good reports on him. Deco has his job and informs us of details so we don't make mistakes. And in some cases he has helped us a lot.”
Garner profile
James Garner continues to be linked with a summer move to Leeds United after impressing for Nottingham Forest in the Championship this season. The Whites are not the only team that the Manchester United loanee has been linked with as a few other sides in the lower part of the Premier League table are reportedly keeping a keen eye on him.
He has been excellent for Steve Cooper’s side this season and has played a key role in their ascent towards the play-off places as well as their run to the quarter final of the FA Cup. Although, with first-team opportunities at Old Trafford looking limited, he is likely to look for another move away which could be permanent rather than temporary.
Click here to read our profile on the 21-year-old.
