Phil Hay: Spurs offered player plus cash to Leeds United for Raphinha, Brazilian feared that move
Phil Hay has shared that Spurs were believed to have fired a player-plus-cash proposal at Leeds United to sign Raphinha this summer.
The Brazilian has since joined Barcelona, with that being confirmed on Friday (15 July), with behind-the-scenes fear shared that he didn’t want to be used out of position by Antonio Conte.
Hay also reported that Leeds only wanted straight cash in any deal, with the player put on the table by Spurs not interesting anyone at Elland Road
Writing in his latest piece for The Athletic on Friday afternoon, Hay shared each part of the Raphinha saga after it finally came to an end.
“Tottenham were another side to home in on Raphinha, then withdraw from the race,” he wrote. “They are believed to have made a player-plus-cash proposal involving an individual in their squad who Leeds had no interest in acquiring.
“There were other factors involved, too.
“People at Leeds suspected Raphinha might not be keen on joining Spurs because he feared their head coach Antonio Conte might play him as a wing-back, a role he did not feel comfortable with.”
No chance.
Spurs and Arsenal were both looking like they would try anything to get Raphinha for a cut-price deal.
In the end, Barcelona look like they are paying more with their £50million-plus transfer, despite their weeks and months of trying their best to try and drive the price down.
They will ultimately pay less than what Chelsea offered in the end, but for that small difference, Leeds will not get tormented twice a year for continuous seasons by their former star.
Conte has put his foot on the gas with transfers this summer, and in the end, he went for fellow Brazilian Richarlison to strengthen his final third options.
Playing Raphinha at wing-back would be one of the biggest wastes yet, and it is something we even saw a couple of time towards the end of last season when injuries and suspensions got bad.
It was a good try by Spurs, but there was no chance of this happening.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites now want to sign this striker with a rival set to kickstart a major £30million+ transfer battle