Brazil international Raphinha won’t be movingto West Ham United despite making a club-record offer for the Leeds United winger. Leeds United are keen on keeping the Brazilian at Elland Road beyond the current winter transfer window.
Brazilian star Raphinha has a little over two years left on his current deal at Elland Road. The 25-year-old signed a four-year deal until 2024 when he joined the Whites at the start of last season.
The club-record offer from West Ham United for Raphinha was revealed via a report from The Guardian. It was disclosed that the West Ham United bid was turned down by Leeds United who are not interested in the player who joined them from French club Rennes. Since signing from Rennes, Raphinha has scored 14 goals plus 11 assists in 51 games in all competitions. He has eight league goals this season.
West Ham United want to add an attacker to their squad before the current transfer window ends on Monday night. It remains to be seen if the Hammers will return for Raphinha with an improved bid before the transfer window shuts.
Jamaican international Michail Antonio is the only recognised striker in the first team squad at West Ham United though Jarrod Bowen can also do a job there. Just like Bowen, West Ham United manager David Moyes believes that Raphinha can play in a lot of attacking roles including the central striker role.
The Hammers have been linked with a lot of strikers in this January transfer window including Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Bayer Leverkusen attacker Patrick Schick, Hugo Ekitike of Reims, and Ben Bereton-Diaz of Blackburn Rovers.