Manchester United have already strengthened their defense and midfield in the summer and the next job in the hands of Erik ten Hag is to buy an elite goalscorer.
While the initial plan was for the club to wait until the summer of next year before buying a striker, the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has accelerated those plans.
Many names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford with Cody Gakpo, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos and Memphis Depay among the leading candidates.
But considering the club’s current financial state, it won’t be easy for the club to splurge on cash yet again in January considering splurging over £200m in the summer.
Leao is another target for United
AC Milan striker Rafael Leao is said to be on the market and AC Milan will only consider selling their star asset for €100m amid growing interest in the Portuguese striker.
This was revealed by The Manchester Evening News, amid reports that the Serie A champions are trying to get the Portuguese international to sign a new contract.
Leao’s current contract expires in 2024 and technical director Paolo Maldini together with DoF Frederic Massara are trying to negotiate a new long-term contract with the 23-year-old.
One of the biggest regrets from the Portugal tournament has been the criminally underuse of Rafael Leão. He has been the best Portuguese attacker of the past year, led Milan to a Scudetto, played 83 minutes and still finished as Portugal’s second top scorer under Bruno Fernandes. pic.twitter.com/Iu8QeauPcm
– Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 11, 2022
There are complications in the form of a €20m payment the player must pay to his former club Sporting Lisbon and the fact that quite a few European heavyweights are behind his signing.
According to Calciomercato, “The first offer that Milan makes to Leão is 6 million euros per season. A certainly important figure but still considered far from the ideas of the environment of the Portuguese international.
“That is why Maldini and Massara are evaluating an increase of 7 million. A final decision will be made in the next few days, but there is every intention to go the extra mile to block the Rossoneri’s number 17.”
AC Milan trying to tie him down to a new deal
Chelsea are among the clubs that have been mentioned as potential suitors and the situation was exacerbated when the winger accidentally followed the club’s profile on Tik Tok.
That accidental follow-through and subsequent pushback got the rumor mill talking and Gazzetta dello Sport has reported the same.
Leao is versatile and can play on the entire front line. He can score goals that can be seen in his eight goals in 20 appearances for Milan this season and his two goals for Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar.
However, with a host of right-footed left-footed wingers, it remains to be seen if United and Ten Hag consider a move to the expensive Leao necessary.
