Rafael Leao surprised all over the weekend when he announced that he intends to leave AC Milan this summer. Chelsea are long-term admirers, but without European football, what are the Blues’ chances?
Leao has been linked with Chelsea for years. The 52-time Portugal international was closest to joining the Blues in 2023, but Todd Boehly and BlueCo signed Mykhailo Mudryk instead. Look how that turned out.
DISCUSS: Jarrod Bowen is a better signing than Rafael Leao…
Chelsea have been linked with both this summer.
Now, Leao has made himself available. He told Portuguese media over the weekend that he wants to leave Milan and try a new league, amid reports Leao is desperate to test his skills in the Premier League.
It then emerged that Leao’s representatives had offered their client to Chelsea among other Premier League clubs. Now, Italian outlet CalcioMercato deliver an update and weigh up Chelsea’s chances.
Chelsea’s ‘volatile’ relationship with Milan may scupper Leao deal
The 27-year-old has endured a tricky season at Milan. Having become a Milan legend over the last seven years, Leao was even booed at times as Milan stumbled to a seventh-placed finish in the Serie A table.
The report says Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle are all partly interested in signing the winger this summer. Especially with reports that Leao might be available for a fee as cheap as £43m.
AC Milan v Feyenoord - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg
Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images
There is interest from Turkish sides Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, while Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal could lure him to Saudi Arabia. But what of Chelsea’s chances? Well, CM say Chelsea’s chances could be at 50-50.
They describe Chelsea’s relationship with Milan as both key to a deal, and ‘volatile’. Talks to sign Mike Maignan annoyed Milan, though a deal late on for Christopher Nkunku earned brownie points.
Leao would be a sensational signing for Chelsea this summer
On the face of it, Chelsea have six senior wingers with the arrival of Geovany Quenda and the upcoming Jesse Derry. The need for more wide men seems little, but dig a little deeper, and Leao would be ideal.
What is Xabi Alonso’s number one priority as soon as he walks through those doors?🤔
Xabi Alonso's priority as Chelsea manager
Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Three of Chelsea’s six wingers will be teenagers: Derry, Estevao and Quenda. Alejandro Garnacho looks like he is leaving Chelsea this summer and Jamie Gittens’ future also looks very much in doubt.
Bringing in an older winger with bags of experience under his belt, a winger with more than 50 caps for his national side, would give the youngsters a tutor. He’d improve Chelsea himself, and his teammates.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox