‘No signs of life’ – Sources at Leeds United assure newspaper over transfer contact, nothing happening

Reports towards the end of the season indicated Barcelona could take Raphinha for €25-30m, should Leeds United drop to the Championship.

That is no longer the case since the Whites were successful in avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

However, that hasn’t stopped the Catalan media from reporting the La Liga side’s interest in the Leeds United star. On Monday, Mundo Deportivo explained the winger is ‘waiting’ for Xavi Hernández’s side to make a serious move for him.

The same newspaper states the English club ‘don’t know anything’ about the Blaugrana’s interest in the Brazil international. His arrival at the Camp Nou is pending what happens with Ousmane Dembélé’s future, who has a month left on his Barca contract.

Raphinha ‘trusts’ a solution can be found for him to join the Catalan club. Sources from Leeds United have informed Mundo that there have been ‘no signs of life’ from Barca. They have not even made a ‘single contact’ with Jesse Marsch’s side for the 25-year-old.

Leeds are aware of the Spanish giants’ interest in Raphinha, through third parties and his representatives. However, they ‘deny the existence of conversations’ with Xavi’s side. 

Barcelona know the operation to sign the former Rennes man would cost ‘over €55m’.

Leeds are aware Barca must first clarify Dembélé’s future. In addition to this, Marsch’s side have not asked for any player to be involved as part of the deal.