Rafael Leao has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs and Manchester City have now been pushed as a destination.
The 27-year-old attacker is determined to leave AC Milan, having been excluded from the Ruben Amorim project. He is training separately from the squad, as attempts are ongoing to find a new club for him.
Sport Witness have covered how several intermediaries have been at work. This has led to Leao being offered to Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea… but it hasn’t brought the desired results.
Now, another idea leads to him moving to Manchester City this summer.
Mendes engineering moves
This comes from Sportmediaset, who report that Jorge Mendes was in Milan yesterday. He represents their new signing Diego Moreira and is working closely with the Rossoneri for several deals.
The super-agent was in intense discussions with the Italian club over several topics and one was the future of Leao. He has tried to place the attacker at Roma, Turkey and in England but nothing has moved.
Now, Manchester City can become a possible destination.
This would be in the form of a swap deal, which would see Milan land Ruben Dias. Amorim is keen on a defensive signing and Mendes can help him get the Portugal international with Leao heading to the Etihad.
The outlet acknowledge that the deal won’t be easy. The last few days of the window would be key, if this swap is to take off.
Our take: Situation clearly desperate
This is a clear sign of how desperate Leao and intermediaries around him are to find him a new club. He has been keen on playing in England and attempts are underway to satisfy that.
The idea of a move to Manchester City can make sense, if Enzo Maresca’s side lose both Savinho and Omar Marmoush. Executing a swap involving Dias with little time left in the window would be very complex.
Besides, the Citizens have already lost a key player in Rodri and wouldn’t want to lose another leader in Dias.
