By George Overhill

9th Jun, 2022 | 6:00pm

Leeds United will owe Rennes millions if Raphinha moves this summer

Leeds United won’t get the full value of the fee for Raphinha if he moves this summer as they will owe Rennes a fee, according to the Ligue 1 side’s executive chairman.

The 25-year-old has looked destined for a move to Barcelona for months, but there looks to be little possibility of the Catalan giants affording the £60million to £70million asking price [The Athletic].

In their absence Premier League rivals have apparently increased their interested markedly [Relevo], with Liverpool the most heavily linked currently as Sadio Mane is set to leave Anfield [Mirror].

The Whites are understandably holding out for a large fee from any transfer, but according to Olivier Cloarec at Rennes, there have been bonuses due throughout the Brazilian’s contract and there will be again if he moves on, as there is with now-Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.

The Rennes chief told TVR, in a clip posted on their Twitter account, and via Foot Mercato: “Yes, there are bonuses that continue throughout their contract and, possibly, if there are transfers from the current club to other clubs. Yeah, it’s in the millions.”

Reduced windfall

The future of the winger is becoming increasingly unclear thanks to the mess at the Camp Nou.

Heading towards the end of the season it seemed to be only a matter of what they would have to pay United to take Raphinha there, with the player set on the move.

He has remained committed to the Whites throughout, but as the financial issues at Barca have revealed themselves to be of a similar level as last summer his desired transfer appears to be moving further away.

Although they have tried to low-ball the club it would surely be a preferable destination if he must go as the chances of Leeds facing the Blaugrana in the near future is fairly low.

If he were to go to any of Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham, or either side of Manchester as been variously suggested it would mean going up against him multiple times next season.

The spending power of the Premier League cannot be denied however, and with Raphinha reportedly telling the club he has no interest in signing an improved deal [90min] it looks like he is intent on leaving at the end of his contract in two years, if not before.

His value will have decreased significantly by next summer as he enters the final 12 months so it may be in the club’s interest to accept a big-money deal now from a club that can actually afford it.

Whether Raphinha, or his agent Deco, would accept that is another matter as they may be intent to hold out for the Barcelona move next year at closer to the price they’ve wanted so far this summer.

If a proportion is going to have to be paid to his French former employers, to the tune of millions according to Cloarec, it is all the more in the club’s interest to maximise their fee.

It is yet another complicating factor in a situation that has turned quite messy.

In other Leeds United news, the door could be re-opened to a big-money European deal thanks to activity at a Premier League rival.