Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman does not think Raphinha will depart Leeds United in January despite the ongoing speculation linking him with his old side.
Raphinha’s agent Deco confirmed last week that Liverpool are interested in signing the 24-year-old following his excellent form at both club and international level.
Since signing from Rennes for just £17 million last summer, Raphinha has netted nine goals and provided nine assists in just 38 appearances and has already found the net on three occasions so far this season.
The former Sporting Lisbon winger then elevated his stock to the next level in his first international camp with Brazil last week.
He scored twice and assisted twice in just 144 minutes of football for the Seleção to help them earn another seven points towards World Cup qualification.
But despite his form and agent speculation, McManaman does not think Leeds would allow him to leave for Merseyside midway through the season, due to both the expected price tag and his importance within Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Speaking in his HorseRacing.net column, he said: “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.”
