Liverpool could sign a supreme talent if Jurgen Klopp pursues a transfer for Raphinha, as his Leeds United teammate Illan Meslier can only wax lyrical, via the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Raphinha moved to Elland Road from Ligue 1 side Rennes for £17m last year and has been a huge hit. The Brazilian has 11 goals and nine assists in 40 Premier League games so far.
He struck home his latest strike as the Whites drew 1-1 with Leicester last Sunday. Opening the scoring in successive matches, after also breaking the deadlock in a 2-1 win at Norwich.
Raphinha’s efforts with Leeds saw the winger earn his senior Brazil bow last month and has kept in Tite’s side. He offered two assists on debut, too, and scored twice against Uruguay.
But Tite is not alone in admiring Raphinha as his agent, Deco – once of Chelsea – told Globo last month that Liverpool have previously made approaches, but never formally to Leeds.
The Whites would not have sold the 24-year-old last summer, as they wanted him to stay for at least one more season. And Raphinha has continued to impress Meslier every day.
“Raphinha is an unbelievable player,” Meslier said of his Leeds teammate, who turned down Italy to represent Brazil. “I speak French with him, too.
“He’s a good teammate and honestly, every day it is a pleasure to train with him and to play with him. All the time he can make skills and shoot.
“Sometimes Raphinha is a storm. He’s amazing, unbelievable.”
Should Liverpool revive transfer plans for Leeds ace Raphinha in 2022?
Raphinha is proving he is no flash in the pan at Leeds, so Liverpool will likely maintain their transfer interest.
The £63.5k-a-week forward – who TEAMtalk report Neymar wants at Paris Saint-Germain – has backed up his stellar debut campaign with a prolific start to the season at Elland Road.
Raphinha is only one goal shy of his haul from 2020/21 in a third of the number of games. Netting five in 10 so far this term, after six in 30 outings last, as he shows himself to be a cut above the rest in West Yorkshire almost week-in, week-out.
His sprints down the wing have game-changing impacts on the Whites’ matches that Klopp will no doubt admire. But Liverpool would surely have to fight Leeds and rival suitors for a transfer for Raphinha next year.
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