Liverpool legend expects their reported target to ‘stay at Leeds’ until next summer


Steve McManaman has predicted that Raphinha will “stay at Leeds” in January unless Liverpool suffer a “huge amount of injuries” before then.

The winger was one of the standout players in the Premier League last season. He was involved in 15 goals from his 30 league games.

Raphinha was one of Leeds United’s best players as they finished ninth in their return campaign in the top-flight.


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The Brazillian was heavily linked with a move away from Leeds during the summer. His agent is former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Deco.

Last week, he revealed that Liverpool were interested in him ahead of the 2021/22 season. 

As reported by Leeds Live, McManaman has suggested that Leeds “won’t want to sell” Raphinha in January:

“He will stay at Leeds. He won’t leave halfway through the season and Leeds certainly won’t want to sell him at the midway stage in the campaign.

“I also don’t think Liverpool will have the funds to sign him halfway through the season. The only way something like that could happen would be if Liverpool suffered a huge amount of injuries, which is something you don’t want to happen to any football club.

“He’s a really good player and he’s been scoring recently for Brazil, but I expect him to see out the season with Leeds.”

Elsewhere, Rio Ferdinand has praised Liverpool as he believes there is a “fear factor” around them:

“Liverpool are on fire. They’re actually playing like the Liverpool team of two or three years ago when they were popping everybody. They look like they’re dominant.

“There’s a fear factor coming back through the league now when teams are coming up against them, thinking, ‘I’m playing against Salah, Mane, Firmino, they’ve got Jota to come in. Van Dijk’s back fit’.

“They’re looking more solid, they’re looking more secure in the way that they’re playing,

“There’s a connectivity between the whole team. They’re playing as a unit, they press together, they retreat together, they attack together.

“There’s a togetherness. They’re a team of experienced people who know how to get the job done, they’ve got trophies behind them now. They’re going to be a formidable team this year.

“I enjoy watching Liverpool. As hard as it is to say as a Man United man, I actually turn the TV on to watch Liverpool because they are an exciting team in all the ways that they play.

“High energy, aggressive with and without the ball, and they score goals and create chances.”





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