Report: Manager expects to keep Leeds target as Bielsa targets £20m alternative

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Brendan Rodgers is expecting Demarai Gray to stay at Leicester City after Leeds United turned their attention to Rennes winger Raphinha, according to The Telegraph (live blog, 12.07pm).

Talk about signing off in style.

In what looks set to be his final appearance for the Brittany-based outfit, Raphinha bid farewell in the most fitting of ways – with a brilliant solo goal that highlighted his speed, skill and precision in the tightest of areas.

Exchanging passes with centre-forward Serhou Guirassy, the 23-year-old Brazilian burst into the penalty area before slotting home with ruthless efficiency.

Clearly this is a player capable of producing something out of nothing. That’s why Leeds are willing to splash out another sizeable sum on their third £20m-plus signing of the window.

Tuttomercatoweb reports Raphinha, who will set Leeds back a cool £20 million, will sign a five-year contract at Elland Road worth about £30,000 a week.

But while the former Sporting Lisbon winger is packing his bags and heading to West Yorkshire, another speedy wideman has been consigned to at least three more months on the sidelines.

Rodgers left the seldom-seen Gray out of Leicester’s squad for Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to West Ham United in an attempt to push him towards the exit before today’s 11pm deadline.

According to The Telegraph, however, all signs now suggest Gray will remain at the King Power Stadium until January at least.