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3 Raphinha replacements Leeds United should be targeting as exit talk intensifies

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Leeds United winger Raphinha looks set to leave the club this summer and the club will have to replace him with a fresh signing.

Leeds have Raphinha to thank as one of the players who massively contributed to their survival from relegation this season.

His form hasn’t gone unnoticed though, and it looks increasingly likely that he will be playing his football elsewhere next season.

With the Brazilian’s pending departure, it is vital that Leeds seal a replacement, even with Brenden Aaronson’s confirmed signing.

Here, we explore three players the club should be looking at to replace Raphinha…

Noa Lang

The first player we think that the club ought to have a look at this summer is Dutch international, Noa Lang.

After Leeds monitored the winger last summer, it seems that he’s someone who could still be a viable option even with Marcelo Bielsa no longer at the helm.

It was revealed recently via the Athletic that it was the Argentine who was less convinced about Lang’s defensive contributions, but his attacking quality speaks for itself – 23 goals and 19 assists since the start of the 2020/21 season.

If Leeds need to replicate the contribution of Raphinha in the final third, they aren’t going to go wrong by going in for Lang, whether he plays as a wide-man or as a forward.

Is Raphinha good enough to play for Barcelona?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Takumi Minamino

Another player who Leeds have kept tabs on previously is Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino.

The Japanese ace has been out of favour under Jurgen Klopp since signing, barely managing to get a run of games since swapping Jesse Marsch’s Red Bull Salzburg for Anfield.

Because of his past with Marsch, it stands to reason that he will make a good fit for the current regime at Elland Road, and it would make a lot of sense if Leeds made a move for him.

Leeds did enquire for him in January, only to be given a swift no from the Reds, but his game time hasn’t been great since only featuring once in the Premier League since February, and scored in that game too away to Southampton.

Just as Brenden Aaronson will slot in seamlessly to Marsch’s formations, Minamino shares similar characteristics.

Daichi Kamada 

A countryman of Minamino’s now in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, who recently lifted the Europa League title with a win over Rangers last week.

He was linked, via Football Insider, in recent weeks and is another that fits the bill for what Marsch will want as he starts to deviate from the way Bielsa’s squad shaped up.

Aaronson will be a player that operates in one of the ‘wide’ attacking midfield roles and Kamada could do that too, contributing in the final third very well with five goals and one assist as the German side picked up European silverware.

While Aaronson could operate on the right to cover Raphinha directly, Kamada has featured on the left-wing this season for his club.

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Jamie Shackleton has scored at Elland Road.

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Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.