The harsh reality of modern football is that, even for clubs as historic as Leeds United, talented and ambitious players will see Elland Road as something of a stepping stone these days.
Now, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Teams such as Monaco and Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed considerable success over the years when providing a platform for some of the brightest young talent in the game. And this is the balance sides in this sort of predicament must strike.
In order to attract the likes of Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and co, you must also ensure that they will be allowed to leave for a genuine A-list institution when the time arrives.
But, until then, you also have the luxury of seeing a bonafide footballing superstar blossom before your eyes. Swings and roundabouts, really.
Take Raphinha, for instance.
Leeds United may have only been able to enjoy the brilliant Brazilian for two seasons, the latter ending in relegation from the Premier League, but by offering him the chance to hone his talents in West Yorkshire, Leeds not only benefitted from Raphinha’s dazzling talent, they also earned a considerable profit when Barcelona came calling.
Alvyn Sanches can take Raphinha route at Leeds United
The former Elland Road hero is now arguably the most in-form attacker in world football. Raphinha captained Barcelona to a 5-2 Super Cup win over Real Madrid last week, while taking his goals tally to the season to 23.
And there will be shades of the Raphinha deal – Leeds paid Rennes £17 million back in 2020 – should Alvyn Sanches end up in England.
Leeds have a ‘concrete’ interest in Alvyn Sanches, reporter Ben Jacobs says. His current employers, Swiss title challengers Lausanne Sport, reportedly value the 21-year-old, an attacking midfielder with ‘enormous creativity’ to quote former coach Sascha Stauch, at around £7 million.
Should Leeds stump up that fee, and should Sanches manage to achieve even a fraction what Raphinha did in that famous white shirt, then it is certainly possible that The Whites could sell the France-born schemer on for a much bigger fee later down the line.
Sanches has already confirmed he plans to leave Switzerland for what he calls an ‘intermediate club’. What others may describe as a ‘stepping stone’ club.
Basically, a team willing to take the chance on him, give him the time and space to cut his teeth, before both parties can enjoy the benefits of a mega-money switch to, say, a Barcelona, a Manchester City or a Bayern Munich.
“My career plan is quite simple,” Sanches says. “I want to finish the season with my club before being able to transfer to an intermediate club, allowing me to reach the highest level.”
Daniel Farke’s Leeds really like Alvyn Sanches’ versatility
Now, such a proud fanbase will not exactly relish the prospect of their beloved Leeds being seen as a ‘stepping stone’ on route to a more glamorous destination. But, then again, you would not have heard many complaints when Raphinha was tying Premier League full-backs in knots at Elland Road.
And if Sanches was to have a similar impact, who would begrudge him a switch of his own to a club in the Barcelona bracket?
“Alvyn Sanches is a concrete name on the Leeds radar,” transfer expert Jacobs explains. “[But] I don’t know if anything will be able to be done now as oppose to the summer.
“He’s doing very well in the Swiss league. [Sanches is] somebody on Leeds’ radar who will not necessarily break the bank.
“What they like, from enquiries I’ve made, his mould is he’s a winger but where he plays is a striker, attacking midfielder, central midfielder… This is someone that can play all over the field.
“When I asked Leeds sources, they likes that Sanches can play all over the park.”
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