According to a recent report by TNT Sports, Leeds United ace Raphinha is inching close to a move to the German champions Bayern Munich in the upcoming January transfer window. Raphinha caught the eye of top European clubs last season when he steered Leeds United to a successful Premier League season after Bielsa’s men returned to the Premier League after 16 years.
The 25 year-old has also been linked with Liverpool, AC Milan and Newcastle United, but Bayern Munich remains in pole position to land the Brazilian. Leeds will ask for around 50 million euros for the winger and settle for nothing less than that.
Raphinha A Star At Leeds United
Raphinha joined Leeds United in 2020 and has been a key player for them since then. The Brazilian was the star player in their first top flight league season after 16 years as he steered them to a ninth place finish in the Premier League. He scored six goals and assisted nine more under Bielsa last season. Even though Leeds United have been below par this season, the 25 year-old has scored eight goals and assisted once.
Raphinha’s performances over the last two seasons have also been rewarded with a national team call up in October this year. He has also made an immediate impact on the national team scoring two goals in 5 appearances.
Getty Images (https://www.gettyimages.de/)
Imago Images (https://www.imago-images.de/)
Raphinha’s rise in stature has not gone unnoticed, with several top clubs in Europe interested in attaining his services. With a 50 million euros price tag set by Leeds, it remains to be seen who wins the race to land the Brazilian in the upcoming transfer window.
Can Leeds United Afford To Let Raphinha Go?
Raphinha has been a standout player under Marco Bielsa after moving in 2020. The 25-year-old is a brilliant dribbler with the ball and can get past defenders with ease. He also has a great delivery from dead-ball situations and has shown that he can be clinical enough in front of the goal when opportunities come up. The Brazilian also has a lot of skills under his belt and has tried using them effectively in crucial situations.
With Leeds United already loitering around 16th place in the league table, losing a player of Raphinha’s calibre will be a considerable blow to Bielsa at this time. It will be a massive task for Leeds to keep the Brazilian until the rest of the season, but it might be the best option for them in order to stay up in the Premier League. A deal in the summer might be ideal for them as they can then search for a replacement with the transfer offer they will receive.
