According to reports in Italy this evening, Manchester City are intensifying talks with Rafael Leao’s father and offering him €12m per season wages, double what Milan can provide.
Just this morning, La Gazzetta dello Sport had claimed Leao was leaning towards accepting a new contract at San Siro with a proposal worth €6.5m per season plus bonuses.
However, now Tuttomercatoweb insist Manchester City have made a sudden surge in their contacts with Leao’s father and are ready to practically double that salary to €12m per season.
He is still under contract with Milan until June 2024 and a January sale remains improbable, but at the right price of over €100m, it could be done.
The Rossoneri have lost several players as free agents in recent years, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Hakan Calhanoglu and Franck Kessie, so are determined not to fall for the same situation again.
Time is running out for Leao to give them a response on his future, but rejecting the Milan offer would open it up to a bidding war with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United also involved.
Meanwhile, Leao sent a message via Instagram this evening, noting he was training with Milan again: “Back home.”