Phil Hay drops fresh Leeds United transfer update that'll have Elland Road buzzing - opinion

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered an update on Leeds United’s plans for the summer transfer window.

During a Q&A for The Athletic, he revealed: “Selling someone such as Raphinha would raise substantial funds and I can’t see Leeds even entertaining Barcelona’s reported valuation of £30m (according to various Spanish outlets). His asking price is bigger than that.

“The money received would help with recruitment but a departure would leave a large hole in the squad too and if, as George suggests, Leeds look to bring in a clutch of new signings, they will need a budget beyond what they can raise by cashing in on existing players.

“One thing worth adding — they speak a lot about the Leicester City model at Elland Road, and the Leicester City model has never involved selling more than one key player in a single summer window. Leeds have to control any outgoings.”

With the likes of Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Illan Meslier all linked with an exit this summer, it promises to be a really huge period in Leeds United’s history.

Losing any one of them would be a massive blow to their chances of retaining Premier League safety next season, but any more than that would be almost unthinkable.

As Hay says, if Leeds are keen on replicating the Leicester model of buying cheaper, unproven players and then moulding them into stars who can be sold for big profit a la Harry Maguire for example, then the Whites are onto a smart strategy.

But, offloading more than just one of their most prized assets would be catastrophic for a side whose time in the Premier League even this season is still insecure.

Raphinha has been the man of the hour since his arrival from Rennes, Phillips remains the heartbeat of this Leeds team, and Meslier is the