Raphinha: Pundit slams West Ham board after source’s update on Leeds star bid
Alan Hutton has slammed the West Ham board for their unrealistic ambitions after making a move to sign Raphinha from Leeds United in January.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted a deal for the 25-year-old was “never going to happen”.
Football Insider revealed last month (29 January) the Irons have a concrete interest in the Brazilian winger and enquired about a possible deal.
However, a Leeds source told this site today the Whites were always going to rebuff any offers for their star forward in the recent window and are in advanced talks to secure Raphinha to a new contract.
Hutton suggested the Irons never stood a chance of signing Raphinha and should have targeted more realistic options.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I just sit here and think: ‘Did they (bid for him)? Is it one of these ones where you put out a story saying we’ve tried to sign someone for £50million?
“Are you even going to get him for that? I don’t think so. We’re talking about the best player that Leeds have. He’s somebody who, of course, could make the difference for West Ham.
“But it seems like one of those ones where you’re trying to tell the fans we did try. We tried to get something over the line. For me, that was never going to happen.
“So is that just papering over the cracks that they did try to do business but it didn’t quite come off?
“I think a club in their position should be going for the targets they know they can get. Just go and do the business as soon as possible, instead of just throwing out these rumours. It was never really going to happen?”
Raphinha is contracted at Elland Road until 2024.
As revealed by Football Insider (3 February), he is close to penning a new deal.
In other news, pundit claims Moyes seething behind closed doors after transfer admission.