Phil Hay shares latest on potential Leeds United exits for Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips
Phil Hay has shared the latest around potential Leeds United exits for Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha this summer as speculation continues to grow daily.
The Athletic journalist shared positive news that the Whites remain quietly hopeful that the Yorkshire Pirlo will put pen-to-paper on a new contract at Elland Road.
As for Raphinha, Leeds are said to be assessing potential replacements, which means they are more realistic regarding his possible exit this summer.
Writing in his latest piece for The Athletic on Tuesday morning [31 May], Hay shared the latest regarding blockbuster exits at Elland Road.
“The nature of the next three months could be influenced by interest in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips — the firmest coming from Barcelona and Manchester City respectively — but holding onto a Premier League place put Leeds in a considerably stronger position to demand high fees,” he wrote.
“The club are assessing possible replacements for Raphinha, preparing for the possibility that their valuation of the winger is met, but efforts to prise him out of Yorkshire have not yet gathered pace.
“The club remain quietly hopeful, meanwhile, that Phillips might sign a new contract and give them another year.”
Priority.
If there is one of these two that has to stay, it would be Phillips every day of the week.
Players like Raphinha come from European leagues every season, get better and then are sold on for profit, it happens all of the time.
One of your homegrown players coming from the bottom to the top and shining on the international stage is rare, and that has to be rewarded or he will be snatched from under your nose.
Andrea Radrizzani has to put a blank contract on the table in front of Phillips and give him whatever he wants, including however much money he wants – he has earned the right to be among the, if not the top earner at the club.
Raphinha will bring in a big windfall if someone wants him bad enough this summer, but it is looking increasingly likely that it won’t be Barcelona, who have to pay up or shut up at this stage – they aren’t getting an easy ride.
It could be a big summer of change at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are readying a new bid for a blockbuster striker signing according to Phil Hay after Premier League survival