According to a comprehensive report from Sport Bild journalists Christian Falk, Tobi Altschäffl, Nico Linner, and David Verhoff (via @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich board member for sport Max Eberl has ended discussions with representatives for AC Milan winger Rafael Leão:
After initial talks, Max Eberl stopped discussions with Rafael Leão’s camp. The trail leading to the Portuguese winger is now ‘cold’. Reports from Italy of a €100m price tag are inaccurate. Milan would be more likely to be willing to negotiate at €70m, but Bayern bosses have not intensified contact with Leão.
Eberl will now focus on other alternatives, including Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams — who is considered to be Eberl’s “dream” transfer:
Max Eberl’s absolute priority is Nico Williams. While the player has a €60m release clause, so the process would be pretty straightforward, Williams’ salary is said to be in the €15-20m gross range - so the package wouldn’t be cheap.
Bradley Barcola is also high on Eberl’s list. However, PSG highly value the young Frenchman’s services; they see him as one of their top stars of the future.
Before Eberl does anything, though, he will need to unload some of the club’s current salary weight from the from budget. Letting Leroy Sané walk away as a free agent and selling Kingsley Coman are two ways to make that happen:
First, however, Eberl must create a place in the squad and get money: either by selling Kingsley Coman, in whom clubs from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia are interested, or by saving the salary of Leroy Sané and letting his contract expire.
Only then can Eberl really get into concrete negotiations with Williams/Barcola involving figures.
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