'If Raphinha left...' - Phil Hay shares 'monster' replacement who Leeds 'really like'

Phil Hay believes Leeds United could see Raphinha leaving the club if the Whites pursue long-time target Noa Lang.

Despite celebrating with the Leeds fans in the away section on Sunday after helping secure their status as a Premier League club, there is still a lot of talk that Raphinha could depart Elland Road this summer, with Barcelona thought to be interested.

The Brazilian winger’s agent is long-time Barca servant Deco, so will naturally have good ties with the Catalan giants, and after a stunning personal season, which saw Raphinha register 14 goal involvements in a side involved in a tough relegation battle, there should be no surprise to see his name linked with an exit for a Champions League side.

However, if Raphinha does end up being sold this summer, Hay stated on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show that Leeds could go back in for Lang.

He said: “I’m only speculating here, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Raphinha left if they went back in for Noa Lang, because they do really like Noa Lang, and they did like him last summer.”

TIF Thoughts on Lang being Raphinha’s replacement…

As Hay mentioned, Lang was a long-term target for Leeds last summer, with the Dutchman being tipped to make the move to Elland Road, only for Marcelo Bielsa to not sign the deal off because he wasn’t convinced by his defensive abilities, as highlighted on the podcast later on (56:30).

While Lang is playing out in Belgium and therefore not quite on the same level as the Premier League, he has still managed to put up numbers that could suggest he’d be able to fill Raphinha’s boots, with 21 goals and 19 assists over his last two seasons.

Barcelona star and fellow coutnryman Memphis Depay was full of praise for the winger in an