According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea would need at least €150m to sign Milan star Rafael Leao.
The Times reported on Tuesday that the Blues are interested in signing the Portugal striker, but the pink paper claims Milan have received no offers from Stamford Bridge so far.
The Serie A champions don’t want to part ways with their star striker and may consider a sale only for a considerable cash offer.
According to the report, Chelsea would need at least €150m to sign Leao, named the best player in Serie A last season.
The 23-year-old still owes €16.5m to his former club Sporting CP for the unilateral rescission of his contract in 2018, while Lille will get the 15% of any future sale, as agreed with Milan when the star striker joined the Rossoneri in 2019.
Negotiations between the two clubs haven’t begun, but the player’s agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly spoken to the Blues. Mendes isn’t Leao only representative. According to Gazzetta, a French lawyer very close to his father is also part of his entourage and would get a commission if the Portugal striker leaves San Siro.
That’s why the costs to sign Leao are so high. His €150m release clause expired in July, but Chelsea still need a similar fee to get the player from Milan.
If Leao remains at the club, the Rossoneri will begin talks to extend his current deal expiring in June 2024. Negotiations between the two parties will reportedly start at the end of September.