Leeds United's summer transfer dealings worry former…

Leeds United's summer transfer dealings worry former defender Danny Mills

TalkSPORT pundit Danny Mills believes Leeds United have a massive job on their hands to replace departing duo Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

Phillips looks set to join Manchester City after they agreed a £42m deal with Leeds last week for the midfielder while transfer talks around Raphinha to Chelsea have heated up in recent days. The Brazilian will likely follow Phillips out of Elland Road for a reported fee of around £55m, which would give Leeds a total of just under £100m to replace their star duo.

There can be no doubt Leeds will be poorer on the pitch as a result of Phillips and Raphinha's departures. Over the last two seasons, the pair played a pivotal role in helping Leeds achieve a 9th place finish in the 2020/21 campaign as well as keeping the Whites in the Premier League last term.

Their exits leave a massive hole in Leeds' starting XI which they will need to find replacements for. While they have already signed Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca this summer, Whites boss Jesse Marsch needs more reinforcements if Leeds are to avoid another relegation battle next season.

And speaking on talkSPORT, ex-Leeds defender Mills believes the Whites face an uphill battle to replace their departing star duo.

"Everyone knows that Raphinha wants to go," Mills said.

"I don't think that's in question and he will go. It's just a case of when, to who and for how much. You would think that three teams coming in for him would make it a bit of an auction and would put the price up a little bit.

"You know, when Leeds were adamant that in the January transfer window when there was that false-ish speculation West Ham were interest for Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, and Leeds were going 'nope, nothing under £60m', they've now let Kalvin Phillips go for £42m which I find bizarre and then they're going to let Raphinha go for £55m.

"Ok, I mean you've got £90m in, but to replace those two players - you've let your best two players leave the football club.

And also I would say, the last two seasons, two of the most influential players in that. Kalvin Phillips, the glue that holds your team together, has been sensational, watched him a lot in the Championship.

"Obviously when he wasn't there in the Premier League as well, there was a gapping chasm in the middle of the park when Kalvin wasn't playing. He's gone. They've got to replace him.

"And then last year, your main goal threat [Raphinha], obviously Patrick Bamford was out for the whole season and I'm hoping he's going to come back this year but you never know after all those injuries so there are some massive, massive holes to fill for Leeds."

Leeds United's summer transfer dealings worry former defender Danny Mills

READ NEXT