In a recent report, Tuttomercatoweb mentioned that Manchester City are eyeing a January move for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. It has been claimed that Man City could face competition in the form of Chelsea in pursuit of the Portuguese wing wizard.
Leao’s Impressive Form In Italian Football This Season
The 23-year-old is having another excellent campaign in Milan as he has managed to put in a run of influential displays on the left side of Stefano Pioli’s attack. The Almada-born talent has found the back of the net on six occasions and earned nine assists in 18 matches for the Italian club this season across all fronts.
Leao has been a consistent performer for AC Milan in the final third because he is averaging 3.8 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per game in Serie A. He has even been tidy with his ball distribution after making 79.8% of his attempted passes in the Italian first division (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at San Siro will expire in the summer of 2024. Therefore, Man City might have a decent shot at landing him on the cheap this January or at the end of this season.
Is Rafael Leao A Good Option For Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola?
Leao has got decent pace under his belt and can make a few promising runs with the ball in the final third. He can strike the ball with venom and accuracy from long range and has got the vision to create a few meaningful chances in and around the opponent’s penalty box. The Portugal international has added plenty of goals and assists to his name over the past couple of seasons.
Leao is primarily a left-sided wide player but can also function as a striker down the middle if his manager tells him to do so. However, it remains to be seen whether he is good enough to make a smooth transition to life in Premier League football.
Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting Leao as he will no doubt add more firepower to Pep Guardiola‘s attack at the Etihad Stadium.
The Portuguese talent could even help Man City challenge for even more trophies over the next few years. Thus, Leao will be a decent option for the Mancunian giants to consider during this summer transfer period as long as he can find a way to cope with the physical nature and high intensity of English football.
