AC Milan winger Rafael Leao reached double figures in league goals with his winner against Fiorentina on Sunday, and other clubs are taking note.
Calciomercato.com report how Leao’s development and his increasing importance to Milan means that the negotiations being played off the pitch for his renewal have taken on a symbolic value regarding the intentions of the project.
In recent weeks the agent of Leao – Jorge Mendes – has raised the request for salary to €5m net per season plus bonuses to get to €6m. This choice is the result of both the legal dispute with the Sporting CP and the compensation that might have to be paid but also because of the demand on the market.
The big clubs in the Premier League are watching on and Manchester City have taken the first steps, while in the last few hours the cash-rich Newcastle United have tested the waters.
The good news is that Leao has always emphasised his attachment to the Rossoneri but the negotiation will also depend heavily on Investcorp, who are close to the acquisition of the club from Elliott Management.
Among the shareholders of the Bahrain-based fund there is the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala who have 20%. Executive president Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Al Ardhi wants to lock up Leao and make him one of the symbols of the new direction.
Take the 70m from PSG. I bet you can find a player with equivalent offensive production that also presses and tracks back to defend, unlike Leao, for 40-50m and half the salary. Use the rest of the money to buy Marco Asensio for RW, and then the 100m from Investcorp + 20m from the sales of Leo Duarte, Hauge and Castillejo for Scamacca, Sanches, Botman and a proper backup for Theo.
Milan 22/23:
Mike
Calabria – Tomori – Botman – Theo
Bennacer – Tonali
Asensio – Sanches – New LW
Scamacca
Actually, I forgot about Origi. So no spend necessary for LW. Might as well take that money and the money for Sanches and get Milenkovic-Savic!
Milan 22/23:
Mike
Calabria – Tomori – Botman – Theo
Bennacer – Tonali
Asensio – Milenkovic-Savic – Origi
Scamacca
Indeed. 70M€ is A LOT of money for such a “team player” who shines once every 5 matches. More stable LW needed.
Do you think that attack can contest for Scudetto next year season?? I’d definitely prefer a berradi to ascensio and we need leao to remain for next season. We would have the financial backings after the board had been taken over we don’t need to sell leao to get money
Uh, yeah, I do. Origi/Milenkovic-Savic/Asensio > Leao/Brahim/Messias. Don’t you think so? Origi is underrated, runs his ass off in a gegenpressing scheme (how Pioli can only dream for this Milan) and FREE. Milenkovic-Savic is perhaps the best box to box midfielder in the league and wanted by everyone. Asensio is born and bred REAL MADRID, having won countless champions league trophies and league titles with them and still only 26. You compare that to Berardi? Don’t get me wrong, Berardi isn’t bad, but LOL.
Not gonna lie, 70m would be great if we could get it but with the new owners coming in, do we need to sell him? He has 2nd highest dribble success rate in EU I think and the highest in the league easily, each season he is scoring more and making more assist, he is only getting better. Our left side is scary good most the time I would rather we built around it than rebuild it.
Just because leao good ,dont mean we Will let him go free transfer and not sell him in summer. If he still refuse extend contract till July then take the money 60-70m euro from PSG or manc city for leao so we can use it to buy nkunku ( return Brahim diaz to real Madrid ) . With 100m euro + sale money from Duarte,hauge,caldara,castilejo ( assuming we can get 20m euro minimum ) total 120m euro transfer budget , we can use to buy RW and LW starter , Theo back up ,botman . For LW starter noa Lang or Dominik szobo ( i prefer szobo) both cost 20-30m euro,for RW starter Asensio or Mahrez both cost 30-35m euro, botman 30m euro , the rest budget can buy Theo back up to replace ballo Toure and Mattia Viti to replace romagnoli