Forget Raphinha: Marsch heading for big Leeds nightmare over £42m-rated "rare talent" - opinion

Leeds United are heading for something of a transfer nightmare this summer, if emerging reports are to be believed…

Not only is star winger Raphinha drawing interest ahead of the transfer window but first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier too.

According to the Daily Mail, the Yorkshire giants are braced to lose players before next season and both the Brazil international and the French shot-stopper are amongst their most attractive options.

It’s thought that the club’s recruitment team are already on the lookout for a replacement for Raphinha, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona keen, though little is mentioned about a successor to the 22-year-old gem.

Whilst the 25-year-old dynamo is undoubtedly United’s best player, leading the squad for goals (nine) and creativity (three assists, 2.1 key passes per game), via WhoScored.

But a winger is easily replaceable, especially given the options available at Jesse Marsch’s disposal already and the fact that they already appear to be planning for life without him.

Club-record signing Daniel James is one name that could fill the void on a more permanent basis, whilst the Premier League side have been linked to many alternatives in the past, including Club Brugge’s “phenomenon” Noa Lang and Georgian wonderkid Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

However, finding someone capable of shielding the goal for many, many years is harder to come by – not since their stint in League One (2006/07 to 2009/10), have they had a long-serving no.1 – that being Casper Ankergren.

Raphinha has often provided crucial input in the final third during Leeds’ few wins this campaign but the 6 foot 4 colossus has stopped many a goal at the other end of the pitch.

When compared against the rest of the Premier League and