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 had 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 degree on factors with the Whites in the event that they safe the victory.
Daniel Farke might be hoping that his aspect are as efficient and strong as they had been of their final outing within the second tier, beating Norwich Metropolis 2-0 at Elland Highway on Wednesday night time.
It’s a enormous conflict on the high of the Championship desk and one that would set Leeds nicely on their technique to securing automated promotion as much as the Premier League.
A loss, nonetheless, might create panic, provided that Burnley would transfer degree on factors with them, and there may very well be requires motion within the January switch window forward of subsequent week’s deadline, provided that the Clarets, Sunderland, and Sheffield United have all been busy.
No matter what occurs tonight, the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly including a midfielder to their taking part in squad earlier than the deadline.
Leeds eyeing Brazilian midfielder
In accordance with the printed version of The Sunday Mirror (26/01/2025), as relayed by The Star, Leeds are one in every of various groups lining up a swoop to signal Botofogo midfielder Danilo Barbosa.
The report claims that fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United and Premier League aspect Everton are additionally within the operating 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 dropping 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 season window.
The Sunday Mirror provides that the Serie A workforce can be keen to money in on the previous Good titan for a payment of £2m, which might make him a cut price 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 provide for his companies earlier than the tip of the present window, or if they are going to 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 aspect 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 companies.
Raphinha was, then, in a position to 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 possibly can see within the clips above, the Brazil worldwide was able to the chic within the Premier League and received 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 big revenue on the winger after simply two years of service at Elland Highway – 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 having already impressed in Ligue 1.
Not like the present Barcelona famous person, the 28-year-old brute would are available 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, quite 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 to make a direct influence – 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 recreation, with out making a single error that led to a shot or purpose for the opposition, to go together 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 aspect 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 | High 2% |
Cross accuracy | 91.4% | High 7% |
Progressive passes | 5.29 | High 10% |
Progressive carries | 1.68 | High 6% |
Blocks | 1.68 | High 2% |
Stats by way of FBref | ||
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Barbosa excelled in opposition to 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 great match for the German’s type 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 nicely.
Due to this fact, Barbosa, who made three interceptions and one block in opposition to Raphinha in a 1-1 draw between Good and Rennes in 2020, may very well be the second Brazilian to reach at Elland Highway by way of Ligue 1 to change into a profitable signing for the Whites.
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Leeds can neglect Buendia with late swoop for “unimaginable” 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 cut price for the membership this month.
