Chelsea'will be back for talks'over'dynamic'£132m star at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea ‘will be back for talks’ over AC Milan star Rafael Leao as they have set
their sights on welcoming ‘one of the most entertaining footballers in the world’ to
Stamford Bridge, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Blues have entered a new era, with Graham Potter being appointed as their head coach
following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel earlier this month, and the former Brighton & Hove
Albion chief’s first opportunity to make alterations to his squad will come in January.
AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has revealed that Chelsea made an informal
approach for Leao during the summer transfer window but failed to present an official bid.
It is understood that the Blues’ proposal was worth £61million plus add-ons, but that
fell a long way short of the release clause written into the winger’s contract.
Leao’s San Siro agreement, which has less than two years left to run, has a buyout figure
just shy of £132million and AC Milan were unwilling to sanction his departure unless
that was activated.
The 23-year-old would have comfortably surpassed Romelu Lukaku as the most expensive signing
in Chelsea’s history if they opted to meet the Serie A giants’ financial demands.
AC Milan are looking to tie Leao down to a new contract, but there is uncertainty over
whether they will succeed in their bid due to being unwilling to meet his expectations
of a deal worth more than £6million-per-year.
Jones believes Leao is a hugely exciting prospect and would offer more than Kai Havertz, who
set Chelsea back £71million when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen two years ago.
The journalist is expecting the west Londoners to test AC Milan’s resolve by re-entering
discussions next summer.
Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Leao is a bit more dynamic than Havertz.
The way he plays is with more thrust and bursts and, at the moment, I genuinely think he is
one of the most entertaining footballers in the world.
“Chelsea will be back for talks about him at the end of the season.”
Leao has already shown during the early stages of the campaign that he is a danger in the
opposition’s penalty area as he has chalked up nine goal contributions in just eight appearances.
He has built on a hugely successful 2021/22 campaign, where he found the back of the net
14 times and registered a further 12 assists over the course of 42 outings.
Leao’s exploits were key as AC Milan bagged the Serie A title, while he was also named
as the division’s MVP.
There is no doubt that the nine-cap Portugal international would improve Chelsea as Potter
looks to stamp his authority on the squad he has inherited.