By George Overhill

8th Jul, 2022 | 11:40am

Leeds United stuck with Sevilla and Bayern as Raphinha to Barcelona could be month away

Leeds United are one of three teams held hostage by players expecting moves to Barcelona that could be a month away, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Raphinha wants a transfer to the Camp Nou and is holding up all progress towards the already agreed £60million deal with Chelsea as a result.

The Catalans are yet to come up with an offer to match that, leaving the Whites stuck in limbo with a want-away player and a budget shortfall.

They are joined by Sevilla and Bayern Munich whose big-money stars Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski have also been convinced to hold out for Barca moves.

But Mundo Deportivo report that those transfers will require €300million (£254million) from the sale of 15 per-cent more media rights by the giants of La Liga, which is not planned until the “second half of July”, which will leave the trio having to “hold out well into August to sell their jewels”.

As noted, the Whites have already made plain they want an answer this week, and they are facing a deadline from Stamford Bridge set for the weekend (9-10 July).

The latest report says United, Bayern and Sevilla “will not wait” for developments at the Camp Nou “that arrive late”.

Get tough

The angry response to the Lewandowski situation from officials at the Allianz Arena is pointed out in the report, where they have made quite clear that the Polish star is expected in preseason training next week.

If this week passes, one that was expected to be key but on current evidence has only seen backwards steps, and there is no bid from Barca then Leeds will surely be forced to cut to the chase in the same way.

For all the back and forth in this saga there has been no public negativity between Raphinha himself and his Elland Road employers, unlike with the Bundesliga giants and their talismanic striker who immediately began releasing statements against each other.

But while frustrations are mounting in private, if the Chelsea offer is taken off the table and the only viable route to receiving adequate money in a timely manner disappears the Whites have no choice but to make the alternative to the Camp Nou preference a reality.

Joan Laporta plainly feels that he will get the 25-year-old when he is ready, whatever the detriment to the other parties involved.

That relies entirely on the Brazilian and his agent holding out for him to come up with the right money, so while Leeds allow that route to be accommodated there is no risk for the Catalans or the player.

They need to make staying until January at least a meaningful threat rather than a loose expectation to force either the bid they are waiting for from La Liga, or Raphinha to choose Chelsea.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites have major bid for exciting transfer target turned down.