Leeds United can land their next Raphinha with cut-price deal suddenly on the table

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Daniel Farke and the 49ers will be aiming to replicate signings like Raphinha’s arrival at Elland Road.

Everyone now knows the name Raphinha in the footballing world, but it was actually Victor Orta’s rare brilliance that discovered the Brazilian gem for just £17m.

Of course, since his £55m exit to Barcelona, the winger can be considered one of the best players in the world, with Thierry Henry tipping Raphinha for the Ballon d’Or.

He’s shining over in Spain, but his time at Leeds made him the player he is today after his tenure under Marcelo Bielsa’s guidance.

Now, Daniel Farke hopes to do the same, and there is a bargain transfer waiting in the wings that must be sanctioned by the 49ers, and a familiar transfer fee comes to mind.

Leeds can land cut-price deal for Lyon’s Georges Mikautadze

The recent announcement around football was the confirmed relegation of French side Lyon to Ligue 2.

It certainly took many by surprise, but now is the time for clubs to act following the unfortunate outcome for Lyon.

This is due to the team from France having a plethora of gems in their squad, as Nicolo Tagliafico has been mooted for a move to Leeds.

He’s not the only one though, as fans are desperate for Georges Mikautadze, as the Georgian was on fire during his first season in Lyon.

The 24-year-old attacker saw 36 goal contributions for club and country across the campaign, and now Leeds have been handed a boost in making fans’ dreams become a reality.

According to the Print Edition of Corriere dello Sport (26/06/25), the player’s pricetag, which was initially set at £25m, could now drop to just £17m.

Funnily enough, Mikautadze’s asking price matches the one that brought Raphinha to Yorkshire, and now they can do it all over again.

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How Leeds will be landing their next Raphinha with Mikautadze

For just £17m to have a player like the Georgian in the team would be astonishing.

Farke’s hope of replicating Raphinha’s move could now be firmly on, and the price tag isn’t the only factor in why both players are so similar.

When Raphinha arrived from Rennes, he was a 23-year-old with a lot of promise, showing why he’s one of the best around now.

Raphinha actually almost rejected Leeds, finding it tough to leave Rennes, but he will be glad he did, and Mikautadze might hope to do the same after Lyon’s relegation.

With Raphinha a similar age to Mikautadze when he left, it’s interesting to see the comparison of both players are from their seasons in Ligue 1.

There are certainly similarities, as both can occupy a spot on the wing or play up front, showing how Mikautadze’s versatility could also emulate Raphinha, as their playstyles strike a resemblance as well, through their ability to get in the box efficiently.

There are so many factors that point to Mikautadze’s signing being an absolute steal for Leeds, and the signs are there that the 49ers can finally bring the spirit of Raphinha back to Elland Road.