According to reports, Manchester City are getting ready to compete with Chelsea for the services of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao....CONTINUE READING
At the start of the 2022–23 season, the 23-year-old has been in excellent form for the Italian champions, scoring three goals and registering four assists in seven games across all competitions.
Leao, who was heavily linked to Chelsea throughout the summer, had a good 2021–22 season with his Serie A team, tallying 14 goals and 12 assists in 42 games across all competitions.
Leao’s release clause is reported to have prevented the Blues from acquiring him with a bid of €80 million (£69 million) made toward the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea are thought to be planning to reignite their interest next year, but according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Man City are also in the mix for his signature.
Di Marzio claims that Citizens head coach Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of the Portugal international, who could potentially leave San Siro in 2023.
Stefano Pioli, the manager of Milan, recently stated that the Serie A powerhouses intended to offer a new contract to Leao in the near future.
“The club wants to offer Leao a new deal soon. They will take care of it – he’s working at the best level. He’s not creating any problems, he’s just working hard as a top professional,” Pioli told reporters.
According to a recent rumour, Leao and Milan’s contract negotiations have reportedly halted because of the player’s £6 million annual demands.
The Portuguese player has been a member of Milan since August 2019, appearing 122 times for the team in all competitions while contributing 30 goals and 25 assists.
“In order to improve, you need talent and intelligence, so Leao has both of those. We gave him the time and freedom to make mistakes so he could learn,” Pioli said when questioned on Leao after Milan’s 3-2 win over Inter Milan earlier this month.
“Naturally, every time we put him in one-on-one situations, he’s an important weapon in our armoury. Rafa has a body language that might confuse people, but I can assure you he knows what potential he has and is very eager to learn.”
With the acquisitions of Julian Alvarez from River Plate and Erling Braut Haaland from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window, Man City strengthened their attack.
But there were also a lot of departures throughout the summer, including the transfers of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively.
When Man City hosts Borussia Dortmund at Etihad Stadium this night, they will be attempting to make it two straight victories in the Champions League.
In a related development, it is rumoured that the Citizens may enter the competition to recruit RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, who is a target for Chelsea.
Towards the end of the summer transfer season, it was rumoured that Chelsea had a deal rejected by Leipzig that would have sent the defender to the Blues the following summer.
Gvardiol just extended his contract with the German club for another five years, but Chelsea could make an attempt to lure the Croatian international to a new term in January.
Fabrizio Romano, a transfer specialist, claims that Gvardiol will stay with Leipzig until the summer of 2019, when Manchester City is expected to compete with Chelsea for his services.
There is a theory that Leipzig turned down Chelsea’s offer because they anticipate interest from several teams in 2023, which might lead to a bidding war.
Gvardiol has appeared in all six Bundesliga games this season, but he has only made two starts. Nevertheless, he is expected to be part of the team for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
