Chelsea have turned away from their pursuit of AC Milan winger Rafael Leao after reaching an agreement to sign Christopher Nkuknku from RB Leipzig.
As per SportsMediaset, Chelsea are not interested in AC Milan forward Rafael Leao having secured a deal for Christopher Nkunku. The French attacker will arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023.
The Blues were credited with an interest in Portuguese international Leao as they have been on the lookout for a forward who could provide a boost to their current attacking lineup.
It is believed Chelsea have now agreed to pay a whopping £53 million to RB Leipzig who will deliver their prime target to West London. Nkunku’s potential arrival won’t make sense for Chelsea’s interest in Leao as owner Todd Boehly is unlikely to sanction that much amount for another attacker.
Chelsea’s loss could be Manchester United’s gain. The Red Devils have identified the 23-year-old as a possible replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo whose contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Leao has continued his errands this season too as he has been scoring goals for fun. He was a fundamental catalyst in Milan’s Serie A title triumph last season and has also emerged to be their main source of goals this campaign.
Milan value the player in the region of €100-120 million and Chelsea’s denial could offer them a chance to conclude contract discussions. The defending Italian champions have been locked in an elongated contract tussle but they will feel more confident following the recent circumstances.
Leao also showed his charisma on the World Cup stage as he managed to put some justice to his name by netting two goals. Primarily a left winger he can also prove to be very dangerous from a more advanced position.
His sudden burst of pace can outclass his opponent while he has the finesse and quality to be one of the most potent goal-scorers in the coming years. Milan will be flooded with offers in the upcoming summer if they fail to agree to a contract extension in time.
