Finest signing since Raphinha: Leeds star is now one of “the league’s best”

Leeds United knew it was going to be tricky to pick up a result on the road at Brentford.

After all, heading into this Premier League showdown at the G-Tech Community Stadium, Keith Andrews’ Bees had only lost once on their own turf from eight contests, with wins against Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Liverpool sticking out.

Thankfully, though, football is sometimes not played to the script, as Leeds clinched a late leveller against the West Londoners to extend their own unbeaten run in the league to three matches.

One star stood out so much for Daniel Farke’s visitors that he could now be considered the Whites’ best signing since Raphinha entered the ranks for only £17m, with the Brazilian now a world beater on the books of Barcelona.

Why Raphinha is Leeds' best recent signing

The number 18 would dazzle Premier League defences from minute one of his arrival, with his former boss Marcelo Bielsa stating that he adapted “very quickly” to what was expected of him in the high-intensity environment of the English game.

Indeed, the £17m signing would have plenty of end product to go alongside his audacious tricks and flicks, with his debut season seeing him bag six goals and pick up nine assists.

Georginio Rutter is, of course, fondly remembered for his equally entertaining spell at Elland Road, but it would take the £35.5m recruit far more time to settle in his new surroundings, next to Raphinha, instantly being thrown in and thriving.

Moreover, for such a modest fee, it’s hard to argue against the South American being one of Leeds’ best modern pick-ups, with the Whites throwing lots of cash on unsuccessful attackers since Raphinha’s two-season stint at the club.

The eye-watering £21m addition of Luis Sinisterra stands out in that regard with the Colombian making just 26 appearances in West Yorkshire.

Thankfully, in the summer, Farke and Co spent their money more wisely, with Noah Okafor up to two Premier League goals already as a smart £18m investment.

But, he isn’t the summer arrival who can now be heralded as Leeds’ best acquisition since the memorable days of Raphinha.

Leeds star becoming their best signing since Raphinha

Farke was a relieved figure at the full-time whistle, with Leeds fully deserving of a share of the points.

Still, it would take all the way up to the 82nd minute mark for Leeds to clinch a draw, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin popped up with a “touch of quality” again – as the Athletic’s Beren Cross labelled it – when calmly directing an inviting Wilfried Gnonto delivery past a stationary Caoimhin Kelleher.

Calvert-Lewin hasn’t had a good few years when it comes to scoring goals but he’s not a man in form, continuing to bail his side out of some sticky situations.

That header was his fourth goal on the trot in the Premier League for his new team. Raphinha would also regularly come in clutch for the Whites, away from being an entertaining star, with his final ever goal for the West Yorkshire titans helping survival to be secured against – coincidentally – Leeds’ opponents on Sunday.

Leeds must be thanking their lucky stars now that they gambled on the Sheffield-born striker’s services in the summer, with the deal to bring in the 28-year-old on a free transfer looking like a steal, much like Raphinha, as the goals keep flowing for the reinvigorated marksman.

Games played

253

Minutes played

16,709 mins

Goals scored

62

Assists

18

Hat-tricks

1x

Leeds would have known that if they could get the very best out of Calvert-Lewin again, away from his recurring injury troubles, that they would be beaming ear to ear about the shrewd decision to pick him up, with the in-form number nine boasting a hefty 62 Premier League goals across his up-and-down playing days.

He will hope these injury problems have passed now, with Farke declaring him an “unbelievable human being” after the 1-1 draw in London, amid shouts, too, from the German that he is one of “the best English strikers we have here in the Premier League”.

Leeds will need to ensure they don’t get too carried away, though.

Still, if Calvert-Lewin were to keep up this red-hot goalscoring form across the whole season, survival should be comfortably reached, which will surely only solidify his label as being one of the club’s best recruits since Raphinha briefly called the Premier League home.

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