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talkSPORT pundit tips Manchester United for £35million move for Leeds United star Raphinha
It would be “common sense” for Manchester United to make a move for Leeds United star Raphinha according to ex-Old Trafford defender Paul Parker.
The Brazilian’s expected transfer to Barcelona is looking increasingly unlikely thanks to their current financial situation meaning they cannot afford the fee or register signings.
According to Relevo the delay has allowed interest from Premier League sides to grow and, with their far higher spending power, they may now be leading the race for the 25-year-old who is expected to leave this summer.
Former England international and talkSPORT pundit Parker believes that the Whites star might see the Red Devils as “a club that’s gonna make his name even bigger in his homeland”, rather than a major rival, and thinks he would fit them perfectly.
He told Bonus Code Bets: “Now, he’s not a centre-forward, he’s a wide player, he’s creative. He plays off the cuff. He improvises. So, I would say that he’s everything that Manchester United are about. When you look at Manchester United wide players, none of them have really done a lot.
“[Jadon] Sancho showed glimpses. [Marcus] Rashford, let’s leave Rashford out of this. They haven’t had anything from someone from a wide area who’s gonna be [a] fright in the forward position.
“So, yes I have to say that he would be a very good signing and the fact that he’s playing in the Premier League is a fact that makes even more sense. They haven’t got to worry about integration. You know, into playing that football.
“So, common sense says, if he’s available, when you talk money I think he’s like £35 million if you add on him.
“I would say he would be a very, very good signing for Manchester United.”
Unlikely
From a Leeds perspective the situation at the Camp Nou is a positive, but the chances of keeping hold of their key attacking force from the 2021-22 season still seems remote.
The likes of Liverpool and Chelsea have been credited with interest in the past, but a move to Old Trafford would surely be the worst outcome of all.
There isn’t an indication, as Parker thought their might be, that the player has stated he wants to go there though, since, foreign import or not, he seems to fully understand the club and the fans.
To be fair to Parker, he seems to be reacting to what has been suggested to him without having all the facts to hand, because both the destination and the price seem way off.
If Man United became the only possible destination for an exit then it is possible that Raphinha might prioritise it, but it seems unlikely they would be at the top of his list otherwise, especially without Champions League football on offer.
That he would go there for £35million is almost impossible, since the club are rightly holding out for a decent fee from Barcelona, and if anything there would be a premium included for him to move to a side that the Whites would have to face every season.
Obviously fans don’t want to see either of Raphinha or Kalvin Phillips leave this summer, but they are realistic enough to know that it could happen.
But either rocking up at Old Trafford, as has been suggested, might turn the support against not just the exiting player but the board for allowing such a deal.
In other Leeds United news, a major, valid point has been raised by one Sky Sports pundit on one of those potential exits.