Glen Johnson warns Leeds United winger Raphinha of the challenge that awaits at Liverpool
Glen Johnson, while speaking to Bettingodds.com (h/t the Daily Star), has warned Raphinha that playing for Liverpool could be a bit more challenging for him than playing for Leeds United.
The Brazilian winger has been linked with a move to the Reds. There is no doubt that our chances to potentially sign Raphinha would have been boosted had the Whites been relegated on gameweek 38.
Nevertheless, Johnson has warned the former Rennes winger that he should expect to fight for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and that the Reds would have a way more intense fixture schedule than his current team.
“I think if you sign for a bigger club, then you’ve got to expect to fight for your place. I think he is good enough to bang the door down and I do believe he will get enough game time at Liverpool.”
Johnson, who played for Chelsea and Liverpool amongst other clubs in his heyday, is not wrong about the additional workload. Raphinha played in just 37 club games this season while Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s star wingers, featured in 51 club games each.
“Bear in mind that if he does go to Liverpool then they’re going to play twice as many games as Leeds do. However, I do believe he will get his game time and I think he’s good enough to nail down a place in the starting 11.”
Mane and Salah both see their contracts expire next year, while the Senegalese star is already linked with a transfer to Bayern Munich this summer. Amidst there, there could be a big opening for Raphinha.
If the winger wants to make it to the very top in the footballing world, there are hardly better teams to play for than Liverpool right now. He would have seen the rise and rise of Salah and Mane under Klopp.
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The chance to have a similar career path would be enticing, but it still remains to be seen if the Reds formally make a bid for him and if the Leeds star wants a switch to Anfield. Because as Johnson said, he will have to fight for playing time here.
