Chelsea and Manchester City could be in business as the exit of Rafael Leao from AC Milan is now ‘inevitable’ according to a report.
Leao has been the subject of interest from a number of big sides of late. Indeed, Chelsea and Manchester City are just a couple on the long list of suitors for the striker.
In the past year or so, the links to a move away have been as frequent as ever.
It’s little wonder, too, given the Portuguese’s credentials. Indeed, Leao has shown he is capable not only of finding the net for himself, but providing for teammates, too.
Last season, he scored 11 Serie A goals and provided 10 assists. He was AC Milan’s joint-top goalscorer both in the league and across all competitions.
His form was also one of the driving forces in Milan winning their first Serie A title since the 2010/11 campaign. So far this season, he has yet again been in red-hot form.
Leao has contributed to nine league goals so far in as many games, as well as providing three assists in four Champions League fixtures.
As such, the attention is clearly justified, and it may be that he makes a move sooner rather than later.
Leao exit cannot follow pattern
Milan have seen a number of their players leave for nothing over the past few seasons: Hakan Calhanoglu, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Frank Kessie.
Calciomercato reports that that cannot be the case with Leao. Indeed, he has until 2024 on his contract, so Milan have more time to ‘negotiate the conditions of his exit’.
However, the report claims that ‘the minimum conditions for Leao to remain at Milan for more than another year and a half do not exist anymore’.
It also states that losing the forward on a free would be an ‘unforgivable economic sacrilege’.
Transfer from Milan inevitable
The report states it is ‘inevitable’ that Leao will move on ‘within six months’. It is apparently not expected that the striker will renew his deal in Italy.
Chelsea and Manchester City are both named as sides with interest. Given how much has been made of the monetary reasons of Leao moving on, one of those sides could be in the box seat.
Naturally, Milan will want to make as much as possible, should they lose their star player. Given his form, it is likely that somebody will pay top dollar for him.
Furthermore, as the two Premier League sides are both in very healthy financial situations, one of them could be the side that comes out on top.
