Craig Scott

Mon 28 March 2022 6:40, UK

Leeds United are “realistic enough to accept” that Raphinha is likely to move on in the near future, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.

Spanish news outlet Sport reported on Sunday (27 March) that Raphinha, 25, has agreed a five-year deal with Barcelona, who’ve had an opening £29.1million bid for the Brazilian winger turned down by the Whites.

Fabrizio Romano added later on Sunday that Raphinha currently has a £75million release clause in his deal at Elland Road and that if Leeds are relegated, the figure would drop to £25million.

Hay doesn’t believe there’s currently a release clause in Raphinha’s deal but has suggested that talk of a new deal at Elland Road is dead in the water and admitted that a move to Barcelona would be very tough to turn down.

“You’ll have read in various places about a release clause in Raphinha’s current deal. I’ve asked about this several times and been told consistently the only release clause in the contract relates to relegation (and in that scenario, it goes without saying that he would be leaving the club anyway),” said Hay on The Athletic website.

“The new contract Leeds want him to sign, however, would include a release clause at a fixed price. Naturally, it suits Raphinha to have said price as low as possible and suits Leeds to have it as high as possible. That’s been a key part of negotiations between them.

“Around Christmas, Victor Orta and Deco met at least twice and there was plenty of optimism about Raphinha agreeing new terms. Very little has been said since then and common sense tells you that both Leeds’ brush with relegation and the change of head coach at Elland Road will have dissuaded the player from rushing into signing a longer deal. He knows he is sought-after.

“I get the feeling that the club and the fanbase are realistic enough to accept that the 25-year-old Brazilian is a player who will move on to bigger things at some stage.”

Huge fee

If Leeds are going to sell Raphinha, they need to ensure they are receiving a hefty fee because he’s not going to be easy to replace.

Raphinha has been a star of this Leeds United team since they returned to the Premier League and he definitely wouldn’t look out of place at a team like Barcelona.

But, if Barca want the Brazil international, they’re going to have to pay a lot of money.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Raphinha and his agent Deco have already agreed a deal for the winger to join the La Liga club.

Our worry with that is what if Raphinha tries to force his way out of Elland Road?

Of course, he won’t have to do that if they’re relegated as his release clause will surely be matched by bidders. But if Leeds stay up, which looks more likely, there’s bound to be some discontent behind the scenes.

We don’t want Raphinha’s spell at Leeds to be tainted by how it ends.

Let’s hope Barca actually offer what’s fair for the Brazilian wonder rather than lowballing bids due to their financial situation and the fact the player wants the move.

In other Leeds United news, a player who had a move to Leeds blocked by Marcelo Bielsa would be perfect for Jesse Marsch.