The Leeds United side that kicks off 2022/23 could look very different from the one that brings an end to a topsy-tuvry campaign away at Brentford on May 22nd.
Even if Leeds do secure their Premier League status for a third-straight season – which looks increasingly after picking up seven points from their last nine games under Jesse Marsch – some rather substantial changes may be afoot.
Incomings and outgoings?
According to The Athletic reporter Phil Hay – the all-seeing, all-knowing oracle for all Leeds United supporters – Marsch will be handed a ‘decent transfer budget’ ahead of his first summer at the helm.
A budget that will be enhanced substantially should both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha depart.
Phillips is yet to extend a contract that expires in 2023. Leeds, then, have a very difficult decision to make. Do they cash in on their prized asset, their homegrown England international, and bring in around £60 million? Or risk losing perhaps their most valuable player on a free transfer 12 months later? Rather you and us, Victor Orta.
How do you replace the irreplaceable?
Phillips, should Aston Villa or West Ham get their mits on a long-term transfer target, won’t be an easy man to replace.
So there will be plenty of pressure on Flynn Downes’ shoulders should the 23-year-old playmaker arrive from Swansea City to fill a Phillips-shaped void in Marsch’s engine room. According to The Times, some at Leeds see Downes as a readymade successor should Phillips bring an end to his lifelong association with the Yorkshire giants.
A big-money departure would also fund Leeds’ pursuit of Brenden Aaronson. The skilful, £20 million-rated America international has been compared to Kai Havertz, worked with Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg and is perfectly suited to Leeds’ high-octaine, possession-based football. Aaronson would be an upgrade on the ageing Mateusz Klich, potentially forming an exciting parntership with a revitalised Rodrigo Moreno in the attacking midfield positions.
Sergio Gomez, Anderlecht’s Spain U21 international, is another target after producing six goals and 15 assists under Vincent Kompany (TEAMtalk). One suspects there will be few tear-stained mourners lining the streets outside Elland Road if Junior Firpo is sold after one injury-hit season.
Raphinha to Barcelona?
Eagle-eyed supporters will notice that there are also three former Barcelona players in this admittedly hypothetical starting XI.
Barca, as you might have heard, are over one billion euros in debt. So they will have to get creative if they want Raphinha to join Xavi’s Camp Nou revolution and, according to reports, Sergino Dest, Oscar Mingueza and Wolves loanee Francisco Trincao could all arrive in exchange.
The value of all three players, combined, probably matches Raphinha’s price-tag. And Trincao, who produced the best performance of his Wolves career against Leeds a couple of weeks ago, could offer similar artistry and skill in the position Raphinha has made his own under Marsch and Marcelo Bielsa, albeit without the same speed or reliability.
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Barcelona are not the only club keen on Raphinha but they are starting to feel like the most obvious destination. Real Madrid are going full-steam ahead for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Liverpool have signed Luis Diaz. And Bayern Munich have just extended Kingsley Coman’s contract.
And it’s safe to say Chelsea have other things on their plate.
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