Leeds United have rejected a bid for star winger Raphinha, according to ExWHUemployee.
The Lowdown: Raphinha stars for Leeds
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have struggled to repeat last season’s efforts but Raphinha has undoubtedly been one of the few positives throughout the season.
The Brazilian has scored eight goals and registered two assists in 19 Premier League appearances, standing out as his side’s most important player with an average match rating of 7.23/10 – no other Leeds player is above 6.83/10.
It could be that Raphinha moves on this summer, as there may be a queue of Champions League clubs lining up for a move – Chelsea are apparently big fans of the player.
However, a key update has emerged regarding the chances of a shock January exit.
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The Latest: West Ham bid rejected
According to West Ham insider ExWHUemployee [via West Ham Zone], the Hammers have seen a bid for the 25-year-old turned down after agents spoke to the club.
“I can confirm that reports that we did make an offer for Raphinha of Leeds United are correct,” he said.
“Our top transfer source has confirmed (backed up by another – our 2 source policy) that an offer went in after agents contacted the club.
“The offer however was swiftly rejected and West Ham were told that Leeds are not prepared to sell at any price this window.”
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The Verdict: Would be crazy
While it may be inevitable that Raphinha eventually moves on to pastures new, such is his quality, the idea of selling him in January doesn’t bear thinking about.
The winger will be vital in ensuring Leeds pull away from the relegation fight – journalist Phil Hay has described him as ‘incredible’ in the past – especially in the absence of other key man like Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford.
Losing him now would have given Leeds no time to find a replacement – should it happen in the summer, they would surely receive a huge sum and have plenty of time to scour the market in order to reinvest in the squad.
In other news, Leeds have been boosted in their attempts to sign a Premier League player. Find out who it is here.