Chelsea are laying the groundwork to sign Rafael Leao next summer as they are prepared to help him with off-field issues.
According to TMW via Sport Witness, Chelsea are interested in Rafael Leao and are willing to make the right offer to set things in motion. The 23-year-old attacker continues to ask AC Milan to help pay his impending fine to former side Sporting CP, which is stalling a renewal.
Rafael Leao is a wonderful talent gracing San Siro, as the club considers him an important star. The Portugal international was named Serie A’s MVP following a stellar 2021/22 campaign, helping the Rossoneri win the domestic title.
There is significant history between the player and his former side, Sporting CP. A few years ago, he left the club in acrimonious circumstances following fan trouble at their training grounds. Leao, alongside a few other players, ended their contract with Sporting unilaterally and moved on free transfers.
In Leao’s case, he joined French club Lille for free and later Milan, who paid a reasonable price for the 23-year-old attacker. As Sporting took the case to CAS and demanded €45 million in damages, the court awarded them €18 million in compensation.
The money has to be paid by Leao and LOSC Lille, with the player still owing a significant chunk. He has yet to pay up and wants AC Milan to help. The Italian giants are unwilling to oblige, which is why his contract renewal has yet to go through.
Leao’s current deal runs out in 2024, and Milan may be forced to cash in during the summer window. There’s significant interest coming from Premier League clubs, who may still pay a huge fee for the 23-year-old attacker.
Milan have been discussing a new deal with Leao for a long time, and the player remains keen on staying with the club. In the background, clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea continue to lurk, with the cash-rich giants willing to make a huge financial commitment to sign him.
Chelsea are reportedly willing to do much more to get the winger’s signature. They are even open to paying the fine Leao owes to Sporting and have reportedly assured the player of the same. If Milan cannot agree on a new deal basis on that single factor, the winger might reluctantly move to the Blues if they arrive with an offer.
But there are also question marks about Chelsea’s recruitment strategy with Leao. They have already signed Raheem Sterling, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke on long-term contracts to play the left attacking role. Adding another star name in the position would make little sense, but Chelsea are open to signing the Portuguese star.
Whether a transfer materialises remains the question. For now, Leao continues to discuss a new deal with Milan, but everything hangs in the balance. Chelsea may seek talks with the player’s representatives later and with Milan to understand a potential transfer.