Reliable journo outlines Chelsea’s stance on landing Serie A MVP

Fabrizio Romano confirms that Chelsea have taken a step back in their interest in Rafael Leao

According to Fabrizio Romano in his exclusive column for Caught Offside, Chelsea do not share the same enthusiasm they once had in the pursuit of AC Milan ace Rafael Leao.

Leao and Milan are now negotiating a new contract after the Italian club long recognised the winger’s quality and wants him to continue in Serie A. The 23-year-old current contract with the San Siro expires in 2024 (Transfermarkt), and only the future will determine if he will stay put.

Over the past two years, Leao has developed to become one of the top players in Europe and is an integral feature of Milan’s squad. He was the star behind the Rossoneri’s Serie A triumph last season, securing the Italian top flight’s MVP award.

When deciding on his future, the Portuguese star wants to remain at AC Milan. He has been presented with a five-year contract with a base salary of €7 million plus add-ons.

It is unclear if the 23-year-old would want more money during the ongoing negotiations, but should he opt to go in the summer, Chelsea’s interest has diminished after the club paid a lot of money to buy Mykhailo Mudryk in January.

And according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, who wrote exclusively for CaughtOffside in the Daily Briefing gave an update on his move:

“At the moment, full priority goes to negotiations with AC Milan. Talks are ongoing, and Milan are offering a five-year deal for €7 million net salary per season with add-ons also included.

Leao gives priority to Milan, but it’s crucial to get it done before the summer or big clubs could move. Chelsea after Mudryk and January signings in that position are more quiet, even if they appreciate the player.”

It would be pointless to sign the Portuguese player because our left flank already appears to be full of players like Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, and Mykhaylo Mudryk.

If one of the aforementioned players is sold in the forthcoming window, we may opt to sign him in the summer to strengthen our depth of the left flank.

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Graham Potter already has a lot of young players on the team, so adding Leao to the mix would be difficult. Also, considering the club’s continued struggles in all competitions, the Portuguese player’s addition would put him under pressure.