In a blow for Leeds United, Raphinha has snubbed new contract talks at Elland Road as he prepares to entertain offers from major clubs across Europe.
According to Goal, Premier League side Leeds United have been handed a major blow as star winger Raphinha has decided to hold off on contract talks and is waiting for offers from top European teams.
The Brazilian international has been a standout player for Leeds since moving to Elland Road in 2020. Raphinha has made 53 appearances for the Whites, scoring 13 goals and assisting 11 more. Numbers alone do not do the player justice as he has turned into a game-changer for Marcelo Bielsa’s side on the flanks.
It comes as no surprise that Raphinha’s performances have helped him garner interest from some of Europe’s top teams. Understandably, Leeds remain keen on keeping their star man and have made several overtures to have him extend his contract. So far, that has been of no avail.
The Elland Road outfit reached out to Raphinha and his camp twice in January but have so far been given the cold shoulder. The Brazilian’s current contract runs until 2024, and Leeds still have some time in which they can convince him to sign on the dotted line.
It will not be easy for the Yorkshire giants as the player is keen to listen to proposals from other clubs and what they have to offer. Leeds are historically one of England’s top clubs but are today nowhere near the summit of the football league. In England, several other sides lead the pack and compete for the biggest trophies year in, year out.
Raphinha appears open to switching to one of Leeds’s domestic rivals as he plots his next move. The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are among the best clubs in the world and can offer Raphinha more chances at winning silverware in comparison to Leeds. Whether either of them can make a successful pitch for his ideas in the summer remains to be seen.
The Whites, however, still retain hope that they can convince the 25-year-old to stay put. They are ready to offer the Brazilian a lucrative new deal, and it remains to be seen if he will bite. As long as he keeps performing at a similar level, Raphinha will only continue to catch the eye of other top clubs, having also been linked with Bayern Munich not so long ago.
In a season where Leeds are being sucked into the relegation dogfight, Raphinha has been their shining light on the field. He has chipped in with eight goals and two assists and has been the difference-maker for the club in tight games. Leeds’s top scorer in this campaign, the 25-year-old’s importance to the club, cannot be understated.
Losing Raphinha is something that Leeds might have to prepare for, but replacing his dynamic presence on the wings would be no easy feat. It promises to be an interesting summer for the player and the club.
