Chelsea target signs new contract with Serie A club with a short-term £150m clause

Rafael Leao signs a new contract with AC Milan to end his Chelsea transfer speculation

As per Evening Standard, Rafael Leao, a long-term Chelsea target, signs a new contract with AC Milan to end the transfer speculation surrounding him for some time now.

Chelsea wanted to sign Leao last summer, but could not get him. The rumours circulated throughout the season whether the Portugal international, whose previous contract at San Siro expiring next summer, will sign an extension there or not.

Well, we have the answer now. He has extended his stay in Milan till the summer of 2028. There is a £150m release clause in his contract that will remain active for a short period of time in July. That level of clause should be enough to push Chelsea out of the race to sign him.

Chelsea target Rafael Leao intends to stay put at AC Milan.
Chelsea target Rafael Leao signs a new contract with AC Milan. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The Blues should not be disappointed by this news because they have signed plenty of right-footed left-wingers in the last two transfer windows. Be it Mykhaylo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling or the incoming Christopher Nkunku, there was no need to fork money on Leao.

We all know that this team needs a proper striker who can score 25+ goals per season consistently. With no European football, it remains to be seen whether the club can attract the elite number nines of this continent to come and play for them.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino should anyway focus on signing a striker.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino should anyway focus on signing a striker. (Photo by -/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)

The other area to address is the midfield department. With Mateo Kovacic close to leaving the club and Mason Mount agreeing personal terms with Manchester United, there are some of the places up for grabs in there.

More Chelsea News:

The Guardian has revealed that Chelsea are in the race to sign Moises Caicedo and Manuel Ugarte in the coming days. We wish and hope that both come and improve the quality levels of the team.