Liverpool will only sign Raphinha on two conditions

Liverpool Echo, as cited by Anfield Watch's Twitter account, have said that Liverpool will only sign Leeds United's Raphinha on two conditions.

The first condition will be if Liverpool's talisman, Mohamed Salah, fails to agree a new deal with the club to keep him past 2023.

The second is if Jesse Marsch's side gets relegated from the Premier League this season, as the Reds would be able to go in for the Brazilian at a 'cut-price'.

Anfield Watch

Firstly, if Mo Salah does actually leave the club then Raphinha would be a very underwhelming replacement, to say the least.

He is a very solid player but as a direct replacement for the best player in the world, it's very hard to see him producing the same numbers as the Egyptian.

It's also starting to look unlikely that Leeds will get relegated after Marsch has picked up some very important points since joining the Yorkshire club.

On the off chance that Leeds do get relegated then, it won't just be Liverpool interested in Raphinha.

As already reported this year, a lot of top clubs are currently in discussions about signing the Brazilian next season as he is looking to move away from Leeds regardless if they get relegated or not.

Before they were hit with sanctions, Chelsea were leading the race for Raphinha. However, more recently, Barcelona are said to be in contact with his agent, Deco, over a potential move to Catalonia and the Brazilian is open to joining the Spanish club, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Transfermarkt values Raphinha at £36m but if Leeds stay in the Premier League they will probably ask for around £50m to let the 25-year-old leave Elland Road.

Whatever happens with Raphinha in the coming months, it seems like Liverpool will be in and around the discussions until he decides on his new club.