After being rejected, Potter wants ‘magic in his feet’ star for £87m at Stamford Bridge
According to journalist Dean Jones, Chelsea will continue to be interested in AC Milan striker Rafael Leao “moving into the new year.”
The brilliant 23-year-old was linked to the Blues throughout the summer, and the defending Serie A champions reportedly turned down a formal offer from them for him.
According to Spanish journalist Manu Sainz (via Football.London), Milan rejected a €100 million (£86.5 million) offer from Chelsea for Leao because they wanted to cling onto their greatest asset.
The Portugal international’s contract is rumored to contain a €150 million (£129.7 million) release clause, but that may not be a deterrent to would-be suitors for very long.
Leao’s current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2024, and according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the player’s agent is hoping to get the condition removed from any future contracts by negotiating new terms.
In addition to that development, Corriere della Sera has reported (via Sport Witness) that Chelsea are ‘ahead of everyone’ in the competition for the talented forward.
Milan apparently won’t settle for less than £87 million for Leao, but if he doesn’t sign a new deal by the end of 2022/23, they could find themselves in a precarious position.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “I know that Chelsea didn’t really need to see him in that fixture to be convinced of what sort of player he is.
“You could see in flashes at Stamford Bridge of how fast he is, of the kind of magic in his feet.
“But this is a player that’s the real deal, he makes things happen, he decides games all the time for AC Milan, and he remains a player that will be coveted by Chelsea and others going into the new year.”