Chelsea earmark Serie A winger to replace 29-year-old senior star

Transfer News: Chelsea want Rafael Leao to replace Hakim Ziyech

According to the Italian outlet  Calciomercato (h/t Football. London), Chelsea have identified AC Milan winger Rafael Leao as a potential replacement for Moroccan superstar Hakim Ziyech if the latter leaves the club this summer.

Ziyech’s future at Stamford Bridge has been far from certain with the former Ajax Amsterdam man linked with a move away from the club. One club heavily linked with a move for the talented winger is Italian powerhouse AC Milan and it has emerged that we could raid them for a replacement.

One of the Rossoneri’s best players is none other than the Portuguese winger Rafael Leao with the talented forward making waves with his performances in Serie A. An exceptional winger, it is only a matter of time before other clubs take notice of Leao.

Chelsea are said to be interested in signing the AC Milan winger as a replacement for Ziyech. It remains to be seen if this can lead to some sort of a swap deal between the two clubs with Ziyech going to Italy and Leao coming the other way.

Leao joined AC Milan from Lille in 2019 and has gone on from strength to strength in the San Siro. Pretty tall for a winger at 188cm, the Portuguese prodigy is not the traditional type of winger and offers something very different in that position.

This season, Leao was a key part of the side that won the Scudetto by pipping Inter Milan. The 23-year-old winger played 42 times for the Rossoneri, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists across all competitions. These numbers show how impressive the Portuguese star has developed into.

Chelsea have already signed Raheem Sterling this summer from Manchester City but failed in their pursuit of Raphinha. Hence, signing another winger might be on the cards for Thomas Tuchel with the German tactician looking to make his squad as competitive as possible.

Leao might be the perfect player for Chelsea considering the fact that he is extremely adept at scoring goals and providing assists. He could be the solution to the Blues’ goal-scoring woes alongside Raheem Sterling and the duo could form a deadly partnership.

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Rafael Leao to Chelsea seems like a very exciting option at least on paper. How it translates on the pitch if a deal actually goes through remains to be seen.