Arsenal have not taken any concrete steps to sign AC Milan forward Rafael Leao despite his desire to join the club, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (press edition, page 6).
The Portugal international has been a key performer for the Rossoneri over the past seven seasons, but he has revealed his ambition to pursue a ‘new challenge‘ away from Serie A.
The former Lille man ‘dreams‘ of playing in the Premier League with Arsenal or Manchester United, but ‘no concrete steps’ have been taken by either club to purchase him thus far.
Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have made contract proposals to the 26-year-old, who is likely to decide on his future after his involvement with Portugal at the World Cup this summer.
Arsenal should avoid an approach for Leao
Leao had a frustrating 2025/26 campaign with the Rossoneri. The left-sided winger was asked to play out of position as a second striker by manager Massimiliano Allegri and struggled to make a big impact.
He mustered only 10 goals and three assists across all competitions. In comparison, the attacker had a far better 2024/25 season with the Serie A giants, making 25 goal contributions as a specialist left winger.
Despite Allegri’s sacking, Leao has opted to pursue a new challenge. He has his sights on a Premier League move, but we don’t believe he would be a good acquisition for the Gunners this summer.
Leao can torment defences on his day with his direct running and quick dribbling skills, but he can be a liability when not in form. He has a poor defensive output and a languid style off the ball.
This won’t go down well with manager Mikel Arteta, who demands a good defensive work rate and eagerness to track back when out of possession. It is a reason why Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have proved solid signings for the club, though an upgrade is now required.
Leao is more of a luxury player who likes to hold the line and lead counter-attacks. He is available for a reasonable price of £43 million, but we would be surprised if Arsenal were to make an approach for him. Arsenal need a marquee left winger to progress to the next step and win regular trophies.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers would be a perfect addition to the club’s ranks in our opinion. The Englishman is coming off a season with 26 goal involvements, with 35 per cent of those from the left wing. He has shown his ability to cut inside from the left flank and can score long-range goals.
Trossard and Martinelli are not necessarily known for scoring attempts from outside the box. Even while playing as a number 10, Rogers has a slight bias towards the left flank. He created 18 big chances in the Premier League and Europa League last term, and would be an ideal acquisition for the Gunners.
Arsenal have the money to spend this summer, and it could take £100m plus to land Rogers.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com