AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli has already admitted that he is 'not at all worried' by the Rafael Leao Chelsea transfer and contract speculation.
The Blues are looking to end the summer transfer window by making statement signings in the market as Thomas Tuchel's attacking woes were exemplified alongside defensive deficiencies in the most recent Leeds United defeat. Kai Havertz just hasn't got going at all meaning that a lot of pressure has been put on Raheem Sterling's back in the early parts of the season. Tuchel will be hoping that the potential signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Anthony Gordon can breathe new life into his frontline.
But it seems that more than two attackers may be signed if things unfold in a certain way. This is because it was revealed on Monday that new owner Todd Boehly has been encouraged into the second round of talks for Serie A star Leao, who is at a crossroads point in his career. With a contract running till 2024 that contains an extortionate £130million release clause, it is believed that the player in question is wanting a Premier League switch. Alternatively, cynics reckon the 23-year-old and Jorge Mendes are using Chelsea as a negotiation tactic to manufacture a new deal.
READ MORE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has approved Todd Boehly’s £80m Rafael Leao Chelsea transfer decision
Boehly plans on bidding £80m outright and adding players wanted by Rossoneri into the operation. Whether or not they accept the structure of the deal being proposed remains to be seen. But the manager's stance in this situation has indicated that the cynics could be right in the end with their assessment of these transfer rumours.
“If he maintains this level, yes. Otherwise Rebic is there. I’m not at all worried about contractual matters, you can see that he is happy to be with us,” he said via SempreMilan a couple of weeks back in regards to a new deal for Leao.
“Potentially he is a champion, for strength and ability to jump man. He has many goals in his legs, even more than last year. He has grown a lot without the ball, now he must be able to occupy the area better.”
Chelsea fans - who would Rafael Leao displace in the current starting eleven if he was to come in before September 1? Leave your thoughts in the comments section!
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