Chelsea, Manchester United 'placed on red alert for Rafael Leao'

AC Milan could reportedly be forced to sell Rafael Leao during this summer's transfer window.

The Portugal international has again been in strong form for his Italian club during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring nine goals and registering 10 assists in 35 appearances in all competitions.

Leao has entered the final 18 months of his agreement at San Siro, though, with his current terms due to expire in the summer of 2024.

A host of leading European clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United, are believed to be interested in signing the 23-year-old during this summer's transfer window.

According to Calciomercato, Milan will use the international break to continue holding discussions with the attacker's representatives in the hope of reaching an agreement.

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However, the report claims that the two parties are still some way apart when it comes to personal terms.

Leao is believed to be looking for a salary of around €7.5m (£6.6m) a year, which is far away from the €6m (£5.3m) plus bonuses that is currently on the table.

Milan are allegedly not prepared to allow the Portuguese to enter the final year of his contract, so he will be placed on the transfer list this summer if an agreement over a new deal cannot be reached.

The Serie A giants would still be in a position to demand a high fee for Leao this summer, as he has established himself as one of the most productive wide forwards in Europe during his time at San Siro.

Leao, who was heavily linked with Chelsea during last summer's transfer window, arrived at Milan from Lille in the summer of 2019.

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The forward has represented his current side on 150 occasions in all competitions, contributing 36 goals and 31 assists in the process.

Leao's lawyer Ted Dimvula recently said that his client wants to remain at San Siro, telling Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano: "There are many false and misleading informations about Rafael Leao, mainly in Italian press.

"This has only one aim: to parasitize cordial and professional exchange that we have with AC Milan management regarding the extension of Rafael's contract.

"The player's priority has not changed: he wants to stay at AC Milan and continue to grow and progress in this institution and this city that he loves so much."

Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation, with Los Blancos set to be in the market for a big-money attacker this summer.