Leeds United have put Cody Gakpo on its shadow list for if Raphinha is actually sold, reports say Foot Market and is confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. The 23-year-old PSV attacker is seriously in the picture with the number seventeen of last season in the Premier League, but a transfer is still a long way off. Leeds also monitors Charles De Ketelaere of Club Brugge as a potential replacement for Raphinha, Romano knows.
For Gakpo, Leeds could be an ideal intermediate step to eventually end up with the European elite. Football International reported a day earlier that PSV’s wing striker is open to a ‘Georginio Wijnaldum-like route’. With an intermediate step at Newcastle United, the said midfielder eventually made the jump from PSV to Liverpool, where he was successful for years. Gakpo has been linked to Arsenal for a long time, which for the time being will not continue for the seven-time Orange international. PSV will bet on an amount above 40 million euros.
Hardly anyone at Leeds assumes that Raphinha will still be under contract with the club next season, now that interest in the 25-year-old star player is increasingly concrete. Leeds has already set the asking price at the beginning of this year at 65 million pounds, converted around 75 million euros, and will not deviate from it under any circumstances. Barcelona reached a personal agreement with Raphinha in February, but have not yet made an offer with Leeds.
Arsenal hope to take advantage of Barca’s wait-and-see attitude and did, according to The Athletic already a first offer for Raphinha, which was swept off the table by Leeds. Tottenham Hotspur, which, unlike Arsenal, is qualified for the Champions League, is looking at the possibilities of hijacking the transfer, and Chelsea is also interested. Thanks in part to 11 goals and 3 assists in Raphinha’s 35 games, Leeds United narrowly remained in the Premier League last season.
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