Manchester City are top scorers in the Premier League this season (40), boasting seven more than Arsenal who are second in the table for goals (33), so Pep Guardiola doesn’t have a fervent need to strengthen his attack.
The Sky Blues have Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez who can operate as wide forwards too, so it’s surprising that Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany says City are interested in Rafael Leao.
The 23-year-old joined AC Milan on a five-year deal from LOSC Lille in 2019 and has gone on to make 135 appearances in all competitions, scoring 34 goals with 30 assists.
Leao scored seven goals with nine assists from 20 games for Milan this season (one goal or assist every 92 minutes) before joining up with Portugal for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He’s impressed in the tournament with two goals, so his stock is high right now.
Plettenberg says Leao has an uncertain future at Milan as he’s unwilling to sign a new contract beyond 2024. So if the Rossoneri are going to sell him, they’re holding out for €150m (£128.8m) – more than twice the amount Chelsea are believed to have offered.
City don’t need another forward unless an existing player leaves, however, so it’s unlikely they’ll make a genuine attempt to sign him.
In other news, Julian Alvarez impressing in sacrificial role for national team at the World Cup
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