Leeds United have the prospect to maneuver 4 factors clear on the high of the Championship desk this night as they put together to tackle Burnley at Turf Moor.
Sheffield United misplaced 3-0 to Hull Metropolis on Friday and Sunderland have been held to a 2-2 draw by Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, which has opened the door for the Whites to increase their lead with a win over the Clarets, who can transfer stage on factors with the Whites in the event that they safe the victory.
Daniel Farke will probably be hoping that his facet are as efficient and stable as they have been of their final outing within the second tier, beating Norwich Metropolis 2-0 at Elland Street on Wednesday evening.
It’s a large conflict on the high of the Championship desk and one that would set Leeds effectively on their strategy to securing automated promotion as much as the Premier League.
A loss, nevertheless, might create panic, on condition that Burnley would transfer stage on factors with them, and there may very well be requires motion within the January switch window forward of subsequent week’s deadline, on condition that the Clarets, Sunderland, and Sheffield United have all been busy.
No matter what occurs tonight, the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly taking a look at including a midfielder to their taking part in squad earlier than the deadline.
Leeds eyeing Brazilian midfielder
Based on the printed version of The Sunday Mirror (26/01/2025), as relayed by The Star, Leeds are one in every of plenty of groups lining up a swoop to signal Botofogo midfielder Danilo Barbosa.
The report claims that fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United and Premier League facet Everton are additionally within the working to signal the 28-year-old star earlier than the tip of the January switch window.
It states that Botofogo need to money in on the Brazilian ace within the coming days to keep away from shedding him for nothing on the finish of the 12 months, as his contract is because of expire on the finish of December, which signifies that he can be free to signal a pre-contract within the upcoming summer time window.
The Sunday Mirror provides that the Serie A workforce can be prepared to money in on the previous Good titan for a payment of £2m, which might make him a discount addition for Leeds, the Blades, or the Toffees forward of the second half of the season.
Nonetheless, it stays to be seen whether or not or not any of the three golf equipment are ready to maneuver in with a agency supply for his providers earlier than the tip of the present window, or if they’ll wait to signal him for nothing at the beginning of subsequent 12 months.
Leeds might, although, take pleasure in a Raphinha repeat with Barbosa, by signing one other Brazilian who has excelled in Ligue 1 previously, as they did with the left-footed magician.
Leeds United’s Raphinha masterclass
In the summertime of 2020, Victor Orta swooped to signal the winger from French facet Rennes for a reported payment of £17m to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.
Raphinha began his profession in Brazil, with Avai FC, earlier than a spell in Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes and Sporting, which led to his transfer to Rennes in Ligue 1.
Throughout his time in France, the ahead racked up eight targets and 7 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, and that satisfied the Whites to swoop in to safe his providers.
Raphinha was, then, capable of translate his kind in Ligue 1 over to the Premier League with Leeds, as he scored 17 targets and supplied 12 assists in 67 outings throughout his two seasons in West Yorkshire.
As you may see within the clips above, the Brazil worldwide was able to the elegant within the Premier League and gained many factors for the Whites along with his unbelievable qualities on the high finish of the pitch.
Barcelona then swooped in to signal him for a reported payment of £55m in the summertime of 2022, which meant that Leeds made a giant revenue on the winger after simply two years of service at Elland Street – making the preliminary £17m deal a masterclass from Orta.
Why Danilo Barbosa may very well be a Raphinha repeat
The 49ers might come near repeating the masterclass that the membership performed with Raphinha by signing Danilo Barbosa for £2m from Botofogo this month, as a result of he’s one other Brazilian who might are available in having already impressed in Ligue 1.
In contrast to the present Barcelona famous person, the 28-year-old brute would are available in as an skilled participant with out a lot potential for a sell-on and performs in defensive positions, as a midfielder or as a centre-back, relatively than on the wing.
Nonetheless, his kind for Botafogo in 2024 and his earlier kind in Ligue 1 for Good, the place Raphinha additionally shined, means that he might are available in to make a direct impression – because the ahead did.
Barbosa made 25 appearances within the Serie A in 2024 and caught the attention with 2.2 tackles and interceptions per sport, with out making a single error that led to a shot or objective for the opposition, to associate with a duel success charge of 55%, which reveals that could be a dependable holding midfielder who is powerful in bodily battles.
The Brazilian ace, who reportedly had a launch clause of €70m (£59m) at Good after his transfer from Portuguese facet Braga, impressed as a centre-back within the 2019/20 marketing campaign in France.
|
2019/20 Ligue 1 |
Danilo Barbosa per 90 |
Percentile rank vs CBs |
|---|---|---|
|
Shot-creating actions |
1.60 |
Prime 2% |
|
Cross accuracy |
91.4% |
Prime 7% |
|
Progressive passes |
5.29 |
Prime 10% |
|
Progressive carries |
1.68 |
Prime 6% |
|
Blocks |
1.68 |
Prime 2% |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
As you may see within the desk above, Barbosa excelled towards his positional friends within the French top-flight that time period, notably at taking part in out from the again, which might be essential in a Farke workforce that dominates the ball.
These statistics counsel that he has the potential to be a very good match for the German’s fashion of play as a centre-back choice, while his present kind for Botofogo in midfield reveals that he nonetheless has the defensive high quality to function successfully in the midst of the park as effectively.
Due to this fact, Barbosa, who made three interceptions and one block towards Raphinha in a 1-1 draw between Good and Rennes in 2020, may very well be the second Brazilian to reach at Elland Street by way of Ligue 1 to develop into a profitable signing for the Whites.
Associated
Leeds can neglect Buendia with late swoop for “unbelievable” 15-goal star
Leeds might miss out on a deal to signal Emiliano Buendia from Aston Villa.
He was as soon as valued at £59m, given his launch clause at Good, which is much more than Barcelona paid for Raphinha, however Leeds now have the prospect to land the 28-year-old for simply £2m, which might find yourself being a discount for the membership this month.
