Chelsea are now being linked with a winger who has already confirmed he wants out of his current club in Rafael Leao. The Blues are in need of another wide player this summer having simply failed to get enough from their wingers in recent times,
Pedro Neto is arguably the only player to have proven himself as a starter, and Estevao Willian is an exciting talent, but the Blues need a polished option out wide if they want to dominate defences on a consistent basis.
Leao option emerges
Xabi Alonso is likely to be considering plenty of options out wide, and according to Corriere dello Sport, Milan superstar Leao is said to be one of the options. The winger has publicly declared his desire to leave Milan and Italy this summer.
Milan missed out on the Champions League and went on to sack their manager and three directors, but in Leao's case, it seems he simply wants a new challenge in a new country.
He said: "I think I gave Milan everything I could give. It is a club that helped me grow a lot and supported me through difficult moments. I am happy to have left my mark on the club's history.
Everyone has their dreams, their challenges, the things they want, the goals they want to achieve. And I also want to take on a new challenge in a new league."
With Leao under contract, Milan can play hardball, but it's likely they won't stand in his way as long as their desired fee is offered. The fee is expected to be between £40million and £43million, which is an affordable price for a top-end winger.
Although, Leao has often played as a striker for Milan, with Massimiliano Allegri previously saying of his ability to play up top: "He has extraordinary qualities and is only getting stronger."
The 27-year-old has been inconsistent at times, but he is a very productive winger, scoring 10 and assisting three in the season just gone. He may be someone Chelsea consider given his availability, but Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked, with the former having a particular need for another top winger to pair with Bukayo Saka.
At this stage, Milan are not said to have received any offers, but the Italian club still need to get their ducks in a line this summer following those sackings, so it's unlikely they will deal with any offers at this stage, while Leao is also at the World Cup with Portugal, so you can expect him to have told his agent to not inform him of any business dealings until after the campaign is over.
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