Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has admitted he would be ‘surprised’ to see Raphinha at Elland Road next season but has tipped Gonzalo Plata as the man to replace him. Leeds’ Brazilian winger has been touted for a move away this summer and has attracted interest from Barcelona and Arsenal.
The 25-year-old is under contract at Leeds until 2024 and will command a fee of around £60-70 million, but his performances last season - with 11 goals and three assists at points single-handedly winning games - have fuelled speculation of a step up to European football. Plata, meanwhile, has been on the radar in West Yorkshire after an impressive loan spell at Real Valladolid yielded six goals and five assists in 30 LaLiga2 appearances.
The Spanish side will not be able to afford the £8.5 million fee apparently quoted by parent club Sporting Lisbon, offering Leeds - among others - the chance to swoop in and pick up the promising 21-year-old.
READ MORE: Insider gives latest on Leeds United's pursuit of Valentin Castellanos from New York City FC
And ex-Leeds stopper Robinson has name-checked the Ecuadorian international as the man to replace Raphinha, adding that he expects the Whites man to be playing European football next season.
“He sounds very much like a Raphinha type of player.” Robinson told MOT Leeds News . “They seem to be highly sought-after, these wingers who play on the opposite side to what foot they are.
“I’d be surprised if Raphinha is still there at the start of next season.I think with where his value is at the moment, his ambitions and how good he’s been the last two years, I’d be very surprised if he’s there at the start of next season.
“I think a big club will come in and they’ll test the water with Champions League football possibly going.For Leeds, depending on what type of transfer budget they’ve got, they’ll do well selling him and putting the money back in the team.
“If they are looking at the type of players like Plata at Sporting, it would suggest he’s seen as a replacement for Raphinha.”
Leeds will face competition for Plata’s signature - namely from Real Betis - but have the upper-hand financially if things turn into any kind of bidding war. A combination of the winger’s productivity in front of goal, decisive dribbling and ferocious work-rate have inevitably led to comparisons with Raphinha, who has been outstanding since arriving from Rennes for just £17 million.
Exactly what happens with the Brazilian depends on the player’s preferred destination in Barcelona. The Catalan club seem confident of securing a deal but admitted on Thursday that they need €500 million just to keep the club afloat. Arsenal have also registered an interest but could not guarantee regular football, with Bukayo Saka already occupying the right-wing spot.
Raphinha said himself in recent weeks that regular playing time will play a major role in his decision this summer, with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on the horizon.
