AC Milan have outlined their stance on Chelsea target Rafael Leao this summer, according to reports.
The 23-year-old was voted as Serie A’s Player of the Season last campaign, helping his side lift the Scudetto.
With Chelsea having seen Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner both depart, with Lukaku spending the season on loan at AC Milan’s rivals Inter, Chelsea are in the market for attackers this summer.
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The Blues have already seen several bids turned down for Everton winger Anthony Gordon.
Frank Lampard, Everton head coach, confirmed the interest but admitted that there has been no progress as of yet.
Lampard said: “He’s our player and the latest is the same as what I said after the game against Nottingham Forest – he’s our player and he’s got three years left on his contract.
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“We’re aware of the interest of Chelsea as the world is now.
“This situation has to be right for Everton Football Club and for me as the coach of the team so we’re in the same position that we were a few days ago.”
Thomas Tuchel is also keen to reunite with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after they spent a successful period together at Borussia Dortmund.
The 33-year-old has Premier League experience and could be brought in to provide goals as no Chelsea attacker has opened their account yet this season.
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With no agreement reached for either Gordon or Aubameyang as of now, Chelsea could eye alternative targets in attack.
Tuchel’s side are reported to have made an enquiry for Leao, with AC Milan referring to his release clause.
The €150 million fee is unlikely to be met by Chelsea this summer, with the Blues already the top spenders in the Premier League having brought in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and others.
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Chelsea have been handed a further blow in the transfer pursuit, with La Gazzetta dello Sport revealing that the Serie A side do not wish to sell their star.
The report states that they ‘absolutely do not want to sell’ Leao, instead working towards handing him a new contract.
If Chelsea are serious, they must pay his release clause but Milan remain confident of keeping him this summer.
Talks will resume over an extension towards the end of the month, with two-years left on his current deal.
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Therefore, it looks like Chelsea must look elsewhere this summer unless they are willing to pay over the odds for the Portugal international.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, AC Milan, Football, Transfers
Nick Emms