It’s been reported today that the latest player Leeds are looking at is Brazilian winger Raphael Martinho, who is now at Italian club Carpi.

Italian website TuttoMercatoWeb is claiming that we’re interested in the 28-year-old, but face competition from Italian sides Pro Vercelli and Spezia. Martinho can play on both wings, and also in central midfield or ‘in the hole’ behind the centre forward.

The player has six years of experience in Italy, and Massimo Cellino is said to be using his contacts in Italy to try to land the player, which raises the question as to whether Martinho is a player that Garry Monk has said he wants, or whether Cellino has made his own decision to try to sign the player.

I have to say that I’m rather underwhelmed by the prospect of signing Martinho. Carpi were relegated last season, but even though they were struggling, he still doesn’t seem to have been good enough to force himself into their side, making only eleven appearances during the season without scoring any goals.

With Dallas, Sacko and Botaka in the squad already, I would have thought we already have enough options for out-and-out wingers, although his versatility could come in handy over the course of a season, if we needed him to fill in in a more central role.

Martinho had the chance to come to Leeds 12 months ago but chose to remain in Italy, and now we might have to pay a fee for him as he has two years remaining on his current contract, though that would depend how keen Carpi are to get him off their books.

If he does sign for Leeds then I hope he proves me wrong and goes on to have a brilliant season, but few of Cellino’s signings from Italy so far have adapted to the pace of ‘The Championship’. So at the moment I’m hoping that Martinho will opt to remain in Italy and sign for one of the other clubs in that country who are said to be chasing his signature.

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