Your Leeds United transfer round-up for Thursday, May 26.
Barcelona reportedly ready to make Raphinha interest formal
Spanish giants Barcelona are "expected to make formal their interest" in Raphinha, according to Sky Sports News. The report has also claimed that Leeds United's mercurial Brazilian is interested in a move to the Nou Camp, which will not come as too big a surprise to anybody at Elland Road, given the pulling power of the five-time Champions League winners.
Social media is also awash with claims that Raphinha’s agent Deco - an ex-team-mate of Barca boss Xavi - has contacted club officials in Catalonia, although it is understood that there has still been no discussions between the two teams regarding the 25-year-old winger. With Premier League status secured, Leeds would appear to be in a stronger position to demand a significant fee for Raphinha, who still has two years left to run on his contract in West Yorkshire.
Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida has tweeted that a fee of €30million, plus another €5million in bonuses, will make up the formal offer, which is likely to fall way short of the Whites' valuation.
Leeds face Liverpool and Serie A competition for Scotland's Young Player of the Year
Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay is on the wanted list of Serie A club Bologna, as well as that of Leeds and Liverpool, according to The Scotsman. The Italians, who finished 13th in the Italian top tier this term, reportedly made an unsuccessful £4.8million bid for the 18-year-old defender in January.
He went on to win the Scottish Football Writers' Association's Young Player of the Year award, having made 33 appearances for the Dons during 2021/22. Ramsay has previously spoken about his desire to emulate fellow Scottish full backs Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney by making an impact south of the border, saying: "Andy Robertson at Liverpool and Tierney at Arsenal, they’ve been brilliant and they’re players I look up to, especially as they are full-backs like me.
“I’ve seen what they’ve done. I feel I could go on to do that as well."
Sheffield United now likeliest destination for one-time target
Sheffield United are ready to make a move for one-time Leeds United target Josh Doig, according to the Edinburgh Evening News. The 20-year-old Hibernian left back, who was also previously reported to be interesting Arsenal, has been a regular for the Easter Road outfit over the past two seasons.
But, if former Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom wants him at Bramall League, he might need to meet a significant asking price with Doig's current contract running until the summer of 2026.
