Chelsea could have 'opportunity to move' on £127m star at Stamford Bridge | OneFootball

Chelsea are still interested in a move for AC Milan and Portugal forward Rafael Leão, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Blues had been interested in a move for the 23-year-old in the summer but were unable to get a deal over the line before the transfer deadline.

What’s the latest on Leão?

According to sources in Italy, Chelsea have been told they must pay£100m for Leão’s services if they are to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

However, the west London side may have the upper hand in transfer negotiations, with Milan struggling to convince the Portuguese forward to extend his contract beyond 2024 at the San Siro.

Sources have indicated that the Serie A star has a release clause worth around £127m in his contract, suggesting how highly he is rated by the Italian giants.

And Jacobs believes that if there is no deal signed between Leão and Milan shortly, then a move to Chelsea would be an option for both parties.

What has Jacobs said about Leão?

Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT: “Rafael Leão from the forward perspective is still on the radar and if there’s no deal signed with Milan, it will allow Chelsea to move on that and naturally supply better financials, which means if they can agree on a fee, and it would be a very high fee, that’s a possibility too.”

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Would Leão be a good signing for Chelsea?

Leão, who has previously been described as a “very special” player by Julien Laurens, has generally played out on the left wing for Milan so far this season, suggesting that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s place in Graham Potter’s side wouldn’t be in immediate jeopardy should he make the move from Italy in January.

However, having only scored 17 goals in the Premier League this season, it’s clear that the west London side could do with some more attacking options up top, with Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz being tied on three goals apiece for the club’s top scorer in the league this campaign.

Leão has enjoyed a solid season at the San Siro so far this campaign, having managed to notch seven goals and provide nine assists in 20 appearances according to Transfermarkt, suggesting that he could add a different dynamic flair to the Potter’s side in the second half of the campaign.

The former Lille man is also a proficient dribbler of the ball and would likely drive the west London side forward, as shown by the fact he ranks in the top 4% of attacking midfielders/wingers, across Europe’s big five leagues as well as the Champions League and Europa League, for dribbles completed per 90 minutes (3.06) over the last 365 days, according to FBref.

Therefore, it seems that Leão could be exactly the type of jolt the Chelsea front line need in the latter half of the campaign, and this might be a deal that the club’s hierarchy look to wrap up in the coming months.