Chelsea transfer latest: Interest established in Serie A MVP Rafael Leao, as Tuchel targets
more than Dembele
Chelsea have joined the growing list of admirers for AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao, a report
has revealed.
Leao was named the best player in Serie A after helping Milan to the Scudetto in the
season just gone. Along the way, he scored 14 goals and added 12 assists from 42 appearances
in all competitions.
In the process, the Portugal international has emerged onto the radar of several clubs.
A recent report linked him with Manchester City and Real Madrid, the champions of England
and Spain respectively.
Subsequent claims have denied Madrid’s interest. However, another contender for Leao’s signature
could be Chelsea.
A new report from 90min has revealed that Chelsea are now monitoring the forward’s
situation. He could be part of their plans to evolve their attack in the summer.
Leao largely features as a left winger, but can also play centrally. Therefore, he could
replace any of Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic or Hakim Ziyech if they
leave.
All four are facing uncertain futures going into the transfer window. Lukaku wants to
return to Inter Milan, Werner has struggled to live up to expectations up front, and Pulisic
and Ziyech have both been in and out of the team under Thomas Tuchel.
Indeed, neither of the two attacking midfielders featured in even half of Chelsea’s Premier
League games in the 2021-22 season.
Now, if Chelsea – in their new era under Todd Boehly’s ownership – want to keep
making strides towards a title challenge, they will need to find players in those roles
that Tuchel can rely on more.
At the age of 22, Leao has a high ceiling. He already has more than 100 appearances for
Milan and is a full Portugal international.
Therefore, he will want to be playing for a club that matches his ambition. After their
Scudetto win, Milan fit the bill for now.
However, his contract at San Siro only lasts until 2024. Therefore, the Serie A winners
will soon get to work on retaining the services of the former Lille star. They also want to
raise his €150m (£127.5m) release clause.
Hence, he may not be the most attainable target for Chelsea. They may have to break their
transfer record to sign him if Milan are unwilling to negotiate. But much would depend on their
progress with his potential renewal.
The report from 90min makes clear that he is not their only target for the final third.
Ousmane Dembele is mentioned as an option again.
The Frenchman is about to become a free agent, unless Barcelona can renew his contract before
the end of the month. Leaving the La Liga giants seems likely for Dembele, who previously
played for Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea have been named in increasing frequency as the most likely takers for the 2018 World
Cup winner. Hence, he may be the most realistic attacking target they can go for.
Yet if there is a chance for Chelsea to add Rafael Leao into the mix too – be that this
year or in the future – their attack should in theory become more exciting than it currently
is. Tuchel supposedly wants an additional signing on top of Dembele.
They cannot neglect their need for reinforcements at the opposite end of the pitch, though.
Finding new defenders will be even more important, so they should not blow the budget elsewhere.
Hence, Chelsea’s ideal strategy should be to bolster their backline, see if they can
get Dembele and then see if there is still a chance for someone like Leao to join as
the icing on the cake. But transfer markets are never that simple.