Gianluigi Longari: Raphinha ‘exit figure’ to be agreed with Leeds United, Barcelona lead ‘race’
An “exit fee” will be agreed between Leeds United and Raphinha with ease due to their “excellent relationship” reports Gianluigi Longari.
The Brazilian had been repeatedly reported to already have a release clause in his contract at Elland Road, which Barcelona were apparently unwilling to meet.
That has now been “clarified” by Fabrizio Romano, who now accepts what Leeds reporters have long been saying, that there is no clause.
Negotiations over a new contract at Elland Road have been ongoing for some time with the player’s agent Deco, and the size of the release fee is apparently the main point of discussion.
But Italian journalist Longari has reported on his Twitter account: “Excellent relationship between Raphinha camp and Leeds.
“The two parties will agree on an exit figure without any tension excluding the figures stipulated on clauses.
“Barcelona leading the race. Manchester United And Liverpool also interested.”
Wishful thinking
If it was so easy for the two sides to agree on a figure then surely it would have happened by now.
The club have been looking to get the Brazilian to sign a new contract for weeks now.
It apparently became less likely recently when the prospect of a deal with the Catalan giants grew.
When the club were looking odds on to be relegated from the Premier League a move appeared certain.
But now that two wins have made that less of an immediate threat, and it has now been widely accepted that there is no release clause without relegation, an affordable release clause has become relevant again.
While direct transfer negotiations have apparently not materialised between the clubs yet, the contract negotiations become the transfer talks by proxy.
It is apparently far from a secret that Deco has his former team’s interests in mind, so whatever release fee he is pushing for will surely be what is coming out of the Camp Nou.
And since they appear to not be able to afford anywhere close to what Leeds value him at, it’s very hard to see how an exit figure will be agreed with such ease.
At the very least there is going to be some tension.
In other Leeds United news, a bidding war is on the cards whether Barcelona are involved or not after multiple approaches were received.