Report details Raphinha stance at Leeds amid Liverpool interest, has befriended two players

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The Daily Mirror have claimed that Raphinha is happy at Leeds United with the Premier League side keen on keeping the Brazilian at Elland Road, amid interest from Liverpool – with the Brazilian befriending two Leeds players.

Raphinha, 24, has been sensational for Leeds since joining the club in the summer from French side Rennes. Signed for a meagre £18million, Raphinha has since had a hand in 10 goals during 21 Premier League games – scoring five and creating five.

The Brazilian might be tempted to leave Leeds after just one season, with links to Liverpool, Manchester United and even Barcelona being tentatively linked with the ex-Sporting Lisbon man. The Mirror report that Liverpool are certainly interested.

But the report also states that Raphinha is happy at Elland Road, and that Leeds are keen to keep the winger beyond the summer. It is believed that his happiness at Leeds is helped by becoming close to two Leeds players, in Helder Costa and Patrick Bamford.

Costa, a Portugal international, is able to speak Portuguese with the attacker – while Bamford is able to converse with the former Rennes man in French, given Raphinha is able to speak French following his time at Rennes.

TBR’s view – Leeds must charge premium price for Raphinha

But Raphinha’s future might also depend on Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine has pretty much confirmed he is ready to sign a new deal at Leeds, but will wait until the summer to extend his stay at Elland Road by a further 12 months.

If Bielsa decides to depart – which is unlikely – then that might change Raphinha’s stance. But given he is happy, and that he has three years remaining on his Leeds deal, the Whites can charge premium price for the Brazilian.

Richarlison swapped Watford for Everton for a fee of £50million in the summer of 2018 (BBC), after his breakthrough campaign with the Hornets – and Leeds need to use that as a reference. Anything less than £50million, and it will be a wasted opportunity.