Chelsea open talks over HUGE €175m swap deal

Tom Weber

Updated: 17 Feb 2025 16:31 GMT
4 min read

Chelsea have asked AC Milan to keep them up to date on the situation and potential availability of Rafael Leao, according to a report.

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The Portugal international is facing an uncertain future at the San Siro following the arrival of close friend and compatriot Joao Felix. The latter was signed by AC Milan on January Deadline Day and arrived on an initial loan from Chelsea.

However, the Rossoneri are already thinking about and discussing keeping Felix at the club long-term. Senior Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that 'everything is possible,' while Felix already announced his willingness to stay beyond the season during his unveiling.

"I’ve been welcomed very well. The most important thing is to be where I feel good, and I feel good here. Then, in football, things can change, but if there’s a possibility to stay at Milan, I would like that," he said last week.

Italian media has reported that Milan could be forced to cash in on one of their big stars to be able to afford a permanent transfer of Felix and one of the most intriguing names mentioned was that of Leao.

Chelsea consider Leao move

This presents Chelsea with a mutually beneficial opportunity seeing as though they are in the market for an elite left-winger. By selling Felix to Milan, they could fund a move for Leao as the Rossoneri won't insist on his €175 million release clause being triggered.

Indeed, TBR Foooball now claims that Chelsea have asked Milan to be kept informed on Leao's situation during their talks over Felix. Chelsea have a long-standing interest in the 25-year-old and have been alerted to his potential availability.

However, the outlet claims that Milan are determined to keep hold of Leao and that he remains firmly in their plans for the future, with his contract still running until 2028.

Instead of the Portuguese, Milan could sell Theo Hernandez in the summer as the Frenchman is enduring his worst season yet in Italy. Indeed, the Serie A giants were already open to offers in January and would have been willing to do business with Como, who launched an ambitious €40m offer only for Hernandez to snub Cesc Fabregas' side.