Chelsea have been handed a blow as reports suggest that attacking target Rafael Leao is closing in on a new deal at AC Milan, effectively ending interest from the Blues.
Graham Potter’s side have held a long-standing interest in the winger, with speculation that they were set to table a mega-offer for the 23-year-old last summer, though no such offer ultimately transpired.
Contracted at San Siro until 2024, Leao’s future has continued to be the subject of significant speculation, with the potential of a cut-price deal in the summer as he entered the final 12 months of his contract.
However, as per Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, “Milan‘s confidence in the renewal of Rafael Leao seems to have increased” in recent weeks as they look to tie down the best years of his career to the Rossoneri”.
“At the moment the AC Milan offer is 7 million per season”, he continues. “In recent days there have been continuous contacts between the management and the father and the player’s lawyer, whose will would be to stay.”.
It means that the Blues may have to make do without the explosive winger, though whether they could still afford a deal with a looming record fee for Enzo Fernandez in the pipeline would be another matter entirely.
