Liverpool 'monitoring' Leeds star Raphinha as Reds ponder summer transfer move

Liverpool are reportedly monitoring Leeds star Raphinha after the winger's impressive start to life in the Premier League.

The Brazilian has been in fantastic form for his side, contributing five goals and six assists so far this season.

Leeds only signed Raphinha in the summer in a £17million deal from French Ligue 1 club Rennes, but already that fee is beginning to look like a bargain.

According to  Goal  , Liverpool are now tracking Raphinha's progress with a view to a potential move in the future, though at this stage their interest is nothing more than simply keeping tabs on the 24-year-old.

The links with Liverpool may not come as a particular surprise given former Reds defender Jamie Carragher recently waxed lyrical about Raphinha's talents, even comparing his traits to Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

“Some of his touches and his play when he comes inside, we’ve highlighted his movement as well," Carragher said on  Sky Sports .

“I was really impressed with him when I watched him at Leicester last weekend as well, not just by Raphinha, but (Patrick) Bamford as well.

“You see that shot there (before Bamford’s goal against Crystal Palace ), that’s so typical of a wide man, that penetrating run that we talk about with Salah, Mane and (Raheem) Sterling, all the great wide players. They make that run and he does. He has great quality on the ball.

“He assisted Bamford certainly in that Leicester game when he fired that pass in and you look at his numbers there, he looks like a real player, certainly of late.

“I think we mentioned before the game that he’s been involved in seven goals in the last eight games, so he’s always a huge threat and that’s always telling when your team-mates know from one training session."

As per Goal's report, Raphinha would also welcome a move to Liverpool as he had originally planned on staying at Rennes for another season before pushing for a transfer to a side in the Champions League.

With the likes of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino all approaching their 30s, adding some fresh legs in attack is likely to be on Liverpool's agenda in transfer windows to come.

Leeds striker Patrick Bamford said of his teammate: "Raphinha is brilliant. I think, to be honest, he has been a steal for Leeds.

“As soon as he came in, you saw him in training. You know sometimes with players whether they are good or they are top class, and he really was. He stood out straight away.

“I am surprised that bigger, more established Premier League teams haven’t taken a punt on him because he really is someone special, and he is young."