Blow for Chelsea as PSG make €150m Rafa Leao move

FT Desk

• 11 Oct 2022 15:33 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea could be set to lose out to PSG in their pursuit of AC Milan's Portugal attacker Rafael Leao, according to reports in Italy.

Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Leao, who contributed 11 goals and 10 assists as Milan won the Scudetto last season, and got to see him up close last Wednesday when they took on the Rossoneri in the Champions League.

Leao didn't have his strongest game last week, the Blues running out 3-0 winners whilst the 23-year-old described his direct opponent Reece James as "the toughest opponent [he has] faced," but he will have the chance for revenge on Tuesday.

But even if the Blues were to further sound him out at the San Siro, they may now struggle to attract him ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, who have entered the running for his signature.

"Luis Campos' PSG will certainly try and snatch the Portuguese from Milan," report Italian sports daily Tuttosport. "The French club's sporting director, who is also Portuguese, was at Lille when they signed Leao on a free from Sporting Lisbon in 2018. His esteem for Leao hasn't faded, and his feeling for another compatriot Jorge Mendes, Leao's agent, remains strong.

Messi replacement?

"PSG will lose [Lionel] Messi ate the end of the season while the futures of Neymar and [Kilian] Mbappe remain uncertain. [Campos] will try and buy Leao for €150 million in 2023, which is the value Milan and the player's entourage have confirmed is his release clause."

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Chelsea spent nearly €300m this summer during Todd Boehly's first transfer window as owner, while they have lined up a €60m move for RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku next year having completed a medical with the Frenchman in Frankfurt in June.

PSG are also understood to be keen on Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar, who would cost significantly less than Leao at just €20m in January given that his contract is expiring next June.