Graham Smyth: Ship has sailed for new Leeds United contract for Raphinha as Barcelona move gathers pace
Graham Smyth has shared that the ship looks to have sailed in regards to Raphinha signing a new contract at Leeds United.
Fabrizio Romano shared on Tuesday that the Brazilian would be happy with a move to Barcelona, with talks already starting with Deco over a switch.
Smyth admitted an exit wouldn’t be a “massive shock” with the impetus put on keeping other star players in place at Elland Road.
Writing on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday (22 March), Smyth reacted to the exit talks.
“A summer departure wouldn’t come as a massive shock would it?” he wrote.
“The new contract ship seems to have sailed, so it’ll all be about staying up, getting the right price and keeping the other star players in place.”
Ship has sailed.
Well, this is the day we were all hoping would not come.
There was always some doubt regarding Raphinha signing a new contract at Elland Road, with another different club being credited with interest each week it seems.
Leeds will know that they will need to bat off interest in their best players, but if they do get offered money too good to turn down, they must use it to reinvest in the squad.
This could mean that all our eggs are put into one basket in regards to new contracts, and that is Kalvin Phillips.
We can accept Raphinha leaving for big money in the summer if the money is used for new signings and a huge new deal for the Yorkshire Pirlo.
Leeds have to be smart in the coming months and plan ahead.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani has broken his silence on Twitter sharing when he will leave the club