Chelsea have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of AC Milan star Rafael Leao.
The 23-year-old has excelled with the Rossoneri over the last 18 months and he is set to become one of the most sought-after attackers in Europe when the January transfer window opens.
Leao was named Serie A Player of the Season in 2021-22 after recording 11 goals and 10 assists for the Scudetto champions, and he has since made an impressive start to the new campaign, scoring seven goals and registering nine assists in 17 matches across Serie A and the Champions League.
The attacker was also on the scoresheet for Portugal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring his first international goal in the 3-2 group-stage win over Ghana before netting the final goal in an emphatic 6-1 last-16 victory over Switzerland.
Leao is regarded as a key player at Milan, but his long-term future at San Siro is believed to be uncertain as his contract is due to expire in the summer of 2024.
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Graham Potter's Chelsea are one of a number of clubs believed to be keeping tabs on Leao's situation along with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Manchester United, although the latter have allegedly cooled their interest in the attacker.
Last month, Leao's father stated that his son was holding positive talks with Milan over extending his contract, telling Record: "We are working on it. Until the deadline of 2024 we will take care of everything, without necessarily Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"He loves being in Italy. He has a predilection for Italians, the one the Portuguese do not have for him. He won the award for best player of the last Serie A not because he was beautiful, but simply...because he is the best."
However, according to Football Transfers, Leao has now stepped back from contract negotiations and is unwilling to sign an extension, giving the likes of Chelsea a major boost ahead of the New Year.
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The report adds that Leao is currently earning around €1.8m per year, but the attacker is requesting more than the €7m-a-year offer Milan have on the table.
The Rossoneri have no interest in selling Leao in January and will hold out for the valuation of his release clause which is believed to be in the region of €150m (£129m).
Milan sporting director Paulo Maldini revealed in October that the Italian outfit turned down a "verbal proposal" from Chelsea over the summer.
"Chelsea haven't sent any official bid for Leao – but they made a verbal proposal... and we rejected, of course," Maldini told reporters via journalist Fabrizio Romano.
"He knows that staying here is the best way to improve. We want to do great things with Rafa Leao in our project."
Should Milan decide to part ways with Leao in the near future, Arsenal attacker Gabriel Martinelli has allegedly been identified as a potential replacement.
Oliver Thomas
