As the summer window approaches, Chelsea continue to be linked with new players every day, and Fabio Capello has urged a European giant to sell a player on Xabi Alonso’s shortlist.
Chelsea go into the summer window with a huge amount of work to do. Xabi Alonso takes over a side that boasts a quantity of players prepared for Europe, but Chelsea failed to qualify for midweek matches.
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
Alonso will be tasked with sorting out Chelsea’s options in goal and at centre-back, while also finding replacements for Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto and others linked with leaving the club.
Chelsea are expected to pursue signings in goal, at centre-back, on the left wing and up front. In recent days, one player linked strongly with Chelsea is long-term Stamford Bridge target, Milan’s Rafael Leao.
Fabio Capello orders AC Milan to sell Chelsea target Rafael Leao
Leao has been linked with Chelsea for years. Back in 2022, Chelsea made an £86m bid for Leao, but a move never materialised. Over the weekend, Leao confirmed he wants to leave Milan for a new league.
Then it emerged Chelsea had been offered Leao, with a £43m fee likely to be enough for Milan to sell. Speaking to Sky Sports in Italy this week, former England boss Fabio Capello told Milan to offload Leao.
Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks dejected
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
“I would look for a team that would buy him. Immediately. Especially because in the last two years he hasn’t been the Leao we remembered, the one with whom AC Milan won the championship,” he said.
“He’s lost that speed, that desire to improve. This new position as a centre-forward is probably a hybrid that hasn’t helped him. But even when he’s moved to the left, he no longer has the speed he once had.
“Once he was unstoppable. Then there’s this whole thing about him saying he wants to leave. It’s clear someone’s whispered in his ear, about other teams’ interests, and he’s trying to break things off.”
On the face of it, Capello’s verdict is worrying if Chelsea do press ahead and do a deal for Milan’s Leao. But actually, it shouldn’t be. Leao has said it himself, he needs to experience a new challenge.
DISCUSS: Jarrod Bowen is a better signing than Rafael Leao…
Chelsea have been linked with both this summer.
After seven years at Milan, things have gone stale. He’s been tried in a new position and has had the pressure of being booed by supporters. Leao is still only 26, and just needs a new move in his career.
Leao has huge experience. The 43-time Portugal international has had a hand in 145 goals in 291 games for Milan and that alone is worth the risk, if Milan are ready to accept offers as reported, of £43m.
Chelsea are in the market for a left-sided winger and the likes of Estevao, Jesse Derry, Geovany Quenda and Chelsea’s other young attackers could learn a lot from a player with such experience.
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