Chelsea target Rafael Leao intends to stay put at AC Milan. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have identified AC Milan star Rafael Leao as a replacement for Lionel Messi amidst Chelsea being linked with the Portugal international, according to Calciomercato (h/t The Sun).
The Parisians have ‘serious’ interest in the 23-year-old. To that end, the Parc des Princes outfit are open to matching the forward’s £132 million release clause and acquiring his services.
At the moment, the current contract of Leao with the Serie A giants is set to expire in the summer of 2024. However, the Italian outfit are keen to extend the winger’s stay at the San Siro side. Nut negotiations between the two parties will take time.
As a result, PSG and the Stamford Bridge side are keeping tabs on the Portugal international’s situation in Milan. The Ligue 1 outfit’s football advisor sees the 23-year-old as the successor to Messi in Paris.
The Argentine World Cup winner’s deal with the Parc des Princes side runs out at the end of the season. It looks likely that the 35-year-old will leave the Parisians in the coming months.
PSG have other talented forwards in the team, like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. However, the French champions seem to lack depth up top, with Hugo Ekitike the only relatively established attacker on the bench.
Chelsea have strengthened their front line over the last two transfer windows. In the summer of 2022, we signed Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The month of January saw us add Mykhaylo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke to the squad.
Graham Potter can also call upon other players like Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech to play up top. We evidently have enough depth on the wings.
However, Armado Broja and David Datro Fofana are the only number nines in the team. Therefore, it would be wise for Chelsea to pursue an out-and-out striker rather than Leao.
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