According to a report from Football.London, Chelsea have been monitoring Rafael Leao of AC Milan for a while as they remain keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge at the end of this season. However, the youngster is in talks with the Rossoneri over signing a new contract with them which could be a huge blow to the Blues as they are hoping for a potential transfer to go ahead in the future.
Leao’s Impressive Numbers With AC Milan So Far This Season
Leao is having a brilliant campaign at the Italian club as he has been responsible for putting in several influential displays on the left side of their attack. The 23-year-old has found the back of the net on nine occasions and picked up nine assists in 25 matches for AC Milan so far this season across all competitions.
The Portugal international has been a consistent performer in the final third after averaging 3.2 shots, 1.6 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game in the Serie A. He has also been tidy when distributing the ball in the opponent’s half after making 77.4% of his attempted passes in the Italian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Rafael Leao’s current contract at the San Siro stadium lasts until July 2024. He had made it prevalent in the past few weeks that he did not want to continue with the Rossoneri beyond his contract but recent developments could prove to take a new turn of events.
Is Leao A Decent Fit For Chelsea Boss Graham Potter?
Leao has been a reliable performer at San Siro; he has proven his worth as a prolific winger who can find the back of the net and also set up his teammates in front of the goal. The Portuguese sensation excels at getting out of tight situations and can cause a lot of problems for his marker out in the wide areas.
However, Leao would have to settle for lesser game time compared to being a regular for the Rossoneri if he chooses to join the Blues as Graham Potter already has several attacking options at his disposal. Thus, in order to convince him Chelsea would have to make room in the attacking department at Stamford Bridge.
Leao was the second-highest scorer for his nation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite coming off the bench which makes it evident that he has the potential to become one of the best attackers in Europe. At 23, Leao’s best years are ahead of him which makes him a decent fit for the Blues. If he can go forward with the same discipline and doesn’t sustain any injury over the coming years then he could be a brilliant addition to Potter’s frontline at Stamford Bridge.
