Alex Crook reports Leeds United concern while dealing with Barcelona for Raphinha deal
Barcelona are unwilling to pay Leeds United an instalment fee for the signing of Raphinha until next year, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.
The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the Elland Road in the ongoing transfer window.
Crook, while speaking on talkSPORT, reported that Barcelona are not in a financial position to pay an instalment to sign Raphinha this year.
“Barcelona don’t want to pay their first instalment [for Raphinha] until next year,” he said. “There’s a genuine concern amongst clubs that Barca may not be around to pay the first instalments.”
Careful
The development will be a concerning one as the club would be hoping to recoup a huge amount of money to let go of the star winger which they would invest in strengthening the other areas of the squad.
However, with Barcelona willing to pay only on instalments where the first one will not arrive till the next year, it will hamper Leeds’ progress massively in the transfer market.
Therefore, it is important that Leeds must ensure that they only let their prized asset leave if they receive a major chunk up front.
Raphinha was extremely influential in the previous campaign for the Whites where he scored 11 goals and also provided three assists in just 35 matches in the Premier League [Transfermarkt].
The 25-year-old is a Leeds player ever since moving to the club in the summer of 2020 from French club Stade Rennais in a deal worth £16.74 million.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign this English left-back as Orta continues to work his magic.