Expert: Leeds United want Raphinha sale ‘soon’ after fee agreed
Leeds United want Raphinha to leave “soon” as clubs battle it out for his signature.
That’s according to former Leeds United stopper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the attacker’s future.
Raphinha looks set to leave Elland Road in the near future with Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona fighting it out for his signature.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on 29 June that Chelsea and Leeds have agreed a fee between £60million and £65million for the 25-year-old winger.
Kenny claims the Whites will want Raphinha’s future sorted out as soon as possible so they have time to spend the money they will make from his departure.
“This has been going on for a while now,” Kenny told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Leeds will be disappointed to lose him but you can understand why the player wants to move. He wants to play Champions League football at Chelsea.
“They are a massive club, they have just been taken over. I think, for Leeds, it’s important it happens sooner because you can use that money to strengthen the squad in the areas that they need to.
“I’m sure they will be gutted they have lost him but these things happen and they need that money.
“They can invest it and sort their own squad out. Leeds will want him to leave soon so they can start doing that.”
Raphinha scored 11 goals and chipped in with three assists during the 2021-22 Premier League season.
He joined Leeds from Rennes in the summer of 2020.
In other news, a Leeds United employee has issued an emphatic Marc Roca verdict as training ground footage emerges.