Premier League Leeds United are set to sell winger Raphinha to Barcelona amid high-profile links to Rangers star Ryan Kent, claim the latest reports coming out of Elland Road.
There has been much conjecture surrounding the future of Raphinha, 25, all window long and only a few weeks ago the Brazilian looked nailed on to join Chelsea in a £55m deal.
But there has been a late transfer twist with Leeds’ summer budget set to bulge with seemingly cash-strapped Barcelona somehow finding £63m to trump their transfer rivals.
Whilst the move hasn’t yet been concluded – and given the situation surrounding Raphinha it certainly ain’t over until the scarf is above his head – it now looks likely to be concluded according to the Daily Mail.
Leeds United to sell Raphinha for £63m amid Ryan Kent Rangers links
This all comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding Rangers winger Ryan Kent, who is entering the final year of his contract at Ibrox.
If the Gers cannot agree a new deal for the 25-year-old this summer then Rangers would be risking losing the £7m ex-Liverpool man for nothing at the end of the season.
Leeds United have been long-term suitors of the winger – even having a £10m bid rejected in 2020 [BBC Sport] – and were recently again mentioned alongside the Ibrox winger.
According to American journalist Dean Jones – speaking on the Rank Squad podcast – despite links between the two going quiet Kent is still “definitely” a Leeds United target.
It’s all very interesting for Rangers fans but whilst fears remain manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that the club are in talks with both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos regarding new deals.
The Ibrox gaffer also confirmed that to date there has been no interest in either player.
“We are in talks especially with players who will come into the last year of their contracts,” said van Bronckhorst [Sky Sports].
“In the last year attention will come to your players but so far the interest we have in our players is not very high apart from Joe of course.
“But in football you never know you just have to wait and see what happens in the future.”
But whilst talk surrounding Rangers, Leeds United and Ryan Kent will persist, have the Elland Road club already signed their Raphinha replacement?
