BBC pundit tells Leeds United to let Raphinha go, but fears Kalvin Phillips follows
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Leeds United have no chance of keeping either Kalvin Phillips or Raphinha if they are relegated, and will struggle even if they stay up says Paul Robinson.
Both the Whites’ stars are in demand in the summer, and with the club going into the last day of the season having to better Brentford’s result or go down, they are sure to be gone if Sunday (22 May) tips the wrong way.
BBC pundit Robinson provided a bleak outlook on the the pair’s future prospects at the club, but was clear who he would choose if they do stay up and can only keep one.
“If they stay in the Premier League they can’t afford to let both of them go,” he told MOT Leeds News.
“I’d let Raphinha go. You build a team around players like Kalvin Phillips.
“If they go down into the Championship they’ve got no chance of keeping either of them.
“Kalvin Phillips was England’s player of the year last year. He’s going into the England dressing room seeing his teammates playing Champions League football, sees them competing for trophies.
“That hunger and that desire is there with him as well. And he’s of that level, and he’s able to compete at that level.
“They’re going to have a very, very difficult job to keep hold of both players if they’re in the Premiership.
“But I think, in all honesty, they should do everything they can to keep Kalvin Phillips, and let Raphinha go.
“If they’re in the Championship they’ve got no bargaining power whatsoever, both will leave.”
United are in the relegation zone on goal-difference with a single round of fixtures remaining.
A trip to Brentford is a tough assignment at the best of times, and with survival on the line it might be a matter of hoping for Newcastle to help them out agains the Clarets.
Barring a huge turnaround in fortunes at the club, even if they stay up, it doesn’t look like either of the key men will be long for Elland Road, but fans will hope they can at least keep their home-town hero for a bit longer.
In other Leeds United news, a major money recent offer has already come in for one of them.