Leeds United in transfer merry-go-round that ends in losing one or both of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips
All summer long the talk about Leeds United has been when, not if, they will lose Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips to bigger clubs.
The Brazilian winger has been linked constantly with Spanish giants Barcelona [Sport], while Phillips has been a target for all of Aston Villa, Manchester United [MEN] and Manchester City [Telegraph], with the English champions leading the charge.
But as we enter the middle period of June, no deals have been done and confidence is high at Elland Road that they will be able to keep hold of at least one of their two star men.
But can they find a way to keep both? It seems awfully unlikely when you consider all the business going on around the continent, especially including the teams that are supposedly in the hunt.
There has been plenty of reports that Barcelona are struggling financially and may not be able to afford the £60m asking price that the Whites have set on their Brazilian magician. But that could change if they’re able to make a major sale.
That seems to be funded by the impending transfer that would see Frenkie de Jong sign for Manchester United, which would in turn see them out of the race for Kalvin Phillips. In turn, that would essentially give Man City a clear path for the England international.
But a fresh report claims that Pep Guardiola wants Barcelona youngster Gavi [Sport, June 13], who has a €50m (£42.9m) release clause and has yet to extend his deal at the Camp Nou. Should that deal happen, you would expect Phillips not to move to the Etihad, but Barcelona would have the cash to sign Raphinha.
While Jesse Marsch continues to build his squad for the new season, with Marc Roca set to join Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen as summer signings already, the futures of his two star men remain up in the air.
And there isn’t much Leeds can do about it. There are new contract offers on the table for both players, but the club simply cannot compete with the money, stature and trophies that the opposing clubs can offer.
It seems as though there is no way that both players remain at Elland Road for the new season, and it seems more likely than not that we’ve seen the last of them both in a white shirt already.
In other Leeds news, club behind in race for PL forward as CL club make move