AC Milan have told Rafael Leão’s representatives that the Portugal international is available for transfer this summer at a price of €60 million to €70 million, with the club willing to structure the deal as a loan with an obligation to buy.
Valuation and Milan’s stance
The Serie A side met with the winger’s entourage to outline their position following a turbulent campaign that culminated in the dismissal of coach Max Allegri. The Rossoneri failed to qualify for the Champions League, prompting the appointment of Ruben Amorim, and club directors are now uncertain about retaining their highest earner. Leão struggled for consistency under Allegri’s management, frequently being deployed out of position as a centre-forward, and reacted angrily to an early substitution during the season.
Despite the 26-year-old’s contract running until June 2028, extension negotiations have been at a standstill for months. Milan paid what eventually rose to €49.5 million to sign him from LOSC Lille in 2019, meaning the current asking price would secure a significant profit for the Italian club.
Transfer preferences and suitors
While concrete proposals have arrived from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, Leão has informed confidants that his preference is to play in either the Premier League or La Liga. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are the two English clubs most prominently linked with the forward, though sources suggest the Red Devils currently have other priorities in the transfer market.
The loan-with-obligation structure is designed to make the transfer more accessible to potential suitors, spreading the financial commitment across two accounting periods. This arrangement would allow a buying club to secure the player’s services immediately while deferring the full purchase payment until 2026.
Milan are keen to resolve the situation before next summer’s World Cup in North America, conscious that an unhappy player with stalled contract talks could see his market value depreciate. Amorim faces the immediate task of deciding whether to integrate a potentially departing star into his pre-season plans or accelerate efforts to find a buyer before the European transfer window closes.