Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch says the club are still to decide whether Raphinha will travel on their pre-season tour of Australia with the winger showing “urgency” in trying to secure a move away from Elland Road.
Leeds will use the next 48 hours to consider Raphinha’s involvement in their three-match tour down under following a summer of intense interest in the Brazilian’s signature.
Raphinha is the subject of a firm bid from Chelsea — an offer worth an initial fee of close to £60 million — but has so far refused to accept the London club’s approach for him.
His preference is a transfer to Barcelona in this window but the Spanish club’s financial strife has so far stopped them from meeting Leeds’ valuation or matching Chelsea’s offer.
Arsenal have also failed to satisfy Leeds following a low initial bid which fell below £40 million.
Raphinha was not involved in a 3-0 friendly win over Blackpool in York this evening but trained with Leeds earlier today.
Asked if he would go with the squad to Australia, Marsch said: “My guess is, I don’t know. We just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of days.
“There’s urgency from his end, I think, to come up with a solution. We have to in the next couple of days see how things stand and see how we go.
“It hasn’t been an easy time for him this summer. Things have come and gone and there have been a lot of little discussions. Right now he’s our player.
“He showed up today and trained with everybody, he had such a good attitude. We had a very open and honest conversation about while he’s here he’s part of us, and then we’ll see what happens. It’s still a long way to go in the transfer window.
“I know he has hopes and dreams. I know he loves this team and this club and he loves being here. We’ll see how things progress day by day.”
(Photo: Getty Images)