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Deco set for ultimatum talks in Barcelona next week on move for Leeds United star Raphinha
Deco will travel to Barcelona this week for talks on whether the delayed move for Leeds United star Raphinha will happen, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The long-expected transfer has completely stagnated since the conclusion of the Premier League season, with the Catalan giants apparently unable to come up with the fee.
A move to the Camp Nou is seen as the Brazilian winger’s preferred outcome, and he has reportedly been dismissing all other offers in the mean time.
Interest is high from within the Premier League, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all considering him, and they are now urging him to make a final decision so they can plan for the 2022/23 season, Mundo Deportivo reports.
According to the report the Whites have set no deadline for him, but he is aware the patience doesn’t last forever.
In that context Deco, his agent, has an “urgency” to clarify with the Barca decision-makers that they will follow through with a move for the 25-year-old.
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Barcelona, and to an extent Leeds, are lucky that Raphinha is not the kind of player to cause a big issue about a difficult situation.
With the Brazil international happy to wait for a move to La Liga if he gets the commitment he wants, and not agitating for the Whites to make that easier for him, both sides have been given the luxury of time.
Offers from England would likely make the player and the club more money however, so he is also benefiting from his good relationship at Elland Road.
The recent members vote that agreed for the Spanish club to sell part of its merchandising and television rights could be worth as much as €700million [ESPN] and would open up the club’s ability to operate in the transfer market.
Until now it looked like a stalemate that would leave United’s winger frustrated and the grand plans to add the likes of Robert Lewandowski in addition fanciful.
After waiting this long though Raphinha wants to know that they remain as committed to him as he has been to them.
That seems fair since they have as yet not backed up their advances for him with the money it was always going to take if Leeds stayed up.
The move he is waiting for looks like it could be back on, but if he receives the wrong message over the next week he may finally consider other options.
In other Leeds United news, a club transfer target to replace a potential major exit has a £35million release clause but they may not have to pay the full amount.