Raphinha has been one of the hottest names in the transfer window this summer, and according to reports, the Leeds United star will likely leave the club in the coming weeks, with Arsenal leading the chase.
The Gunners have made an opening bid for the Brazilian as per the Athletic, and whilst this initial offer is set to be rejected, Arsenal will likely make another attempt to sign Raphinha, who is also on the radar for the likes of FC Barcelona and Chelsea.
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With Leeds only just surviving last season, Raphinha looks destined to leave Elland Road this summer, and with a huge payday coming Jesse Marsch’s way, the American coach will have to find a replacement for his talismanic attacker.
Indeed, Leeds have already signed Brenden Aaronson, but the Whites will need more if they’re to replace Raphinha. With that in mind, here are five players who could move to Yorkshire this summer should the attacker leave in the coming weeks.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Knowing how Marsch operates, a younger winger is likely to be signed by Leeds to replace Raphinha, and in the Premier League, there’s arguably no better player available this summer that fits these criteria than Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Chelsea star and England international is likely to depart west London this summer with the Blues keen to rid themselves of his £100,000-a-week contract, and with Leeds needing a superstar right-winger to replace Raphinha, Hudson-Odoi could be perfect for the job.
Noah Okafor
Marsch has already signed one RB Salzburg star this summer in Aaronson, and if the former Bundesliga coach is to look towards his former side again for an answer to Raphinha, then Noah Okafor is the man for the job.
22 years old and reportedly on Newcastle United’s radar, Okafor hit 14 goals in all competitions last season as well as ten assists, yet with Salzburg losing two huge players already this summer in Aaronson and Karim Adeyemi, letting go of the Swiss international as well could be a tough ask for Leeds.
Roland Sallai
With Marsch’s last job being with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, the German top-flight is an obvious place for Leeds to look for a Raphinha replacement, and SC Freiburg star Roland Sallai could be an interesting pick for the American manager.
The winger who recently bagged a brace for England in their 4-0 loss to Hungary, Sallai has been a consistent performer in the Bundesliga since joining in 2018, and with the attacker now 25 years old, the Budapest-born forward might be an option to replace Raphinha at Leeds if Marsch is looking for an alternative player.
Silas Katompa Mvumpa
The footballer previously known as Silas Wamangituka, the 23-year-old DR Congo international endured an injury-hit season last year for VfB Stuttgart, with the winger playing just nine Bundesliga games. However, Leeds could be perfect for the former Paris FC academy star.
Blessed with incredible pace and finishing, Silas was the breakout star in Germany in the 2020/21 season, and with Stuttgart open to selling key players this summer, Leeds should be considering the winger as an option to replace Raphinha given the attacker’s versatility and natural ability to play on the right-wing.
Timothy Weah
With Marsch at Leeds, and American just had to make it onto this list, yet LOSC Lille prospect Timothy Weah could actually be a sensible option to replace Raphinha given the youngster’s ability to play both out on the right and as a striker.
Moreover, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup coming this summer and Weah’s place in the USA squad not confirmed, the winger will be key to impress between now and November, and moving to Leeds would be an ideal move for the 22-year-old New York-born attacker.
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