ExWHUemployee reacts to reported West Ham United bid for Leeds star Raphinha
ExWHUemployee has shared that West Ham United have indeed lodged an offer for Leeds United star Raphinha in January.
The reliable source reported that the bid was swiftly rejected and that the Whites have informed clubs that the Brazilian will not be sold for any price.
Ex even suggested that the “mystery” £50million bid that has been floated around this week was likely this move for Raphinha.
Writing on the West Ham Way Patreon (29 January, 2:10 am) Ex shared the chances of the move happening before Monday evening.
“I can confirm that reports that we did make an offer for Raphinha of Leeds United are correct,” he wrote. “Our top transfer source has confirmed (backed up by another-our 2 source policy) that an offer went in after agents contacted the club.
“The offer however was swiftly rejected and West Ham were told that Leeds are not prepared to sell at any price this window.
“The chances are that this offer is the mystery £50m offer that has been reported that we submitted but this is not confirmed.”
Mystery.
Well then, it is easy to put two and two together with this one and assume that the mega-bid was for Raphinha.
The Brazilian would certainly be worth in that bracket or based on Leeds’ response, even more, especially in January.
It is near impossible to sign players from another Premier League side during this window, with clubs not wanting to strengthen direct competition.
Ex’s update can be seen as a big positive though, with the Irons prepared to spend big money in the final 72 hours of the window.
We need to move on swiftly from Raphinha, though, if it isn’t going to happen, with reinforcements desperately needed in defence and the final third.
The Hammers have left it very late, and we hope that doesn’t come back to haunt us as we look for some deadline-busting deals.
In other West Ham United news, this one Irons star is set for a bumper new deal at the London Stadium as interest sparks GSB into action