In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer praised Leeds United summer signing Raphinha and the impact he has made at Elland Road this season.
The 24-year-old joined the Yorkshire club from French outfit Rennes in a £17m deal last October and has not disappointed manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Raphinha is proving himself to be a game-changer and has been directly involved in 10 of Leeds’ 43 Premier League goals in the current campaign. The Brazilian is also averaging 2.1 key passes per game, the highest average in the Whites’ squad (via WhoScored), further showing his attacking influence.
Can Leeds keep hold of Raphinha?
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His displays in English football’s top flight have caught the eye, and Palmer is one individual who has certainly taken notice. Speaking exclusively to FFC about Raphinha, Palmer said:
“I’ve seen a lot of him and I’ve read up a lot on him. I mean, he’s a Brazilian and, you know, especially away from home, I think he’s a fantastic outlet for Leeds United because of his ability to dribble with a ball.
“It’s typical Brazilian flair and style, but he has assists and is getting into positions to make crosses because of his pace and his ability to dribble past players.”
If Raphinha continues performing at the level he has been at this season, it will be interesting to see where that takes him.
Despite only arriving at Elland Road last year, the Brazilian attacker is already being linked with a move elsewhere, with current Premier League champions Liverpool said to be circling.
According to France Football (via MailOnline), Raphinha tops the Reds’ shortlist of transfer targets for the summer. Leeds, however, are said to be under no pressure to sell, which will come as welcome news to Bielsa.