Chelsea are looking to sign a right-footed left winger this summer. They made three failed bids to bring in Jamie Gittens in time for the Club World Cup. Negotiations are expected to continue with Borussia Dortmund. At the same time, they should keep an eye out on alternative targets as well. One they have been linked on and off for years is Rafael Leao.
Leao has been linked with a move away from AC Milan for a long time now but it has never materialised. And considering the transfer fee the Italian club seem to be looking for, this might not be the year either.
It is hard to imagine Chelsea meeting the asking price. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Transfer News Live), AC Milan would only consider parting with Leao for €100 million.
The issue with Leao is that while he has been considered one of the top wingers for years, he has never really taken the next step in terms of his output. His most effective Serie A season for AC Milan saw him score 15 goals and provide 8 assists. But he then followed that up with two single-digit goal-scoring campaigns.
Chelsea told how much they'll have to pay to sign Rafael Leao
After spending six seasons at AC Milan and at 26 years of age, the time has come for Leao to take the next step. But unfortunately, considering the transfer fee that the club are looking for, an exit will be tough to pull off.
Leao's current deal with AC Milan runs until the summer of 2028. So, there is no scope for him to become a free agent anytime soon either.
So, Leao looks set to spend his prime years at AC Milan. As for Chelsea, they will have to look at other options. Of course, Gittens looks like the top priority, for good or for bad. Other than that, Alejandro Garnacho has also been linked with the Blues.