During one of the many discussions regarding Pervis Estupiñán, Aston Villa reportedly asked AC Milan for information about Rafael Leão.
For now, it is only an exploratory enquiry, but the situation could develop over the course of the summer. The Portuguese winger now considers his cycle at the Rossoneri to be over and is waiting for an offer from a top-level club, preferably from the Premier League.
Coming off a far-from-impressive World Cup, Leão is currently on holiday in Turkey and is expected to join the team in Perth on July 29, unless transfer developments occur before then. The forward does not appear interested in the approaches from Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, and is hoping that a major European club will enter the race.
So far, however, no concrete offers or serious enquiries have arrived from the top clubs. Milan would not close the door on a potential sale either, as the Rossoneri management would be ready to let the Portuguese leave without major resistance if an offer of €60 million arrives. Aston Villa’s interest therefore represents the first sign of a situation that could heat up in the coming weeks.
Karetsas could be the right profile at Casa Milan to replace Leao's potential exit:
Milan have reportedly already identified the profile they would target in the event of Rafael Leão’s departure. It is Konstantinos Karetsas, the 2007-born attacking midfielder from Genk, who is considered an ideal player to add creativity and quality behind the striker in Ruben Amorim’s system.
However, the Greek talent is also attracting strong interest from Borussia Dortmund, although the player himself is reportedly more attracted by Milan’s project. Genk value him at €40 million including fixed fees and bonuses, helped by the fact that Karetsas is tied to the club until 30 June 2029.
Before investing such a significant amount, Milan would first need to complete an important sale, which is why a potential departure for Leão could help finance their move for the 2007-born talent.
