Chelsea's summer transfer window plan appears to hinge on whether or not Lionel Messi decides to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. The 35-year-old faces an increasingly uncertain future at the Parc des Princes with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Messi is yet to commit his long-term future to the Parisians and, having been heavily linked with moves to either the MLS or a return to his homeland, it's said that PSG are beginning construct a contingency plan in the event that he leaves. According to Calciomercato, the French giants hold a 'serious' interest in Rafael Leao.
The report states that they're willing to activate the AC Milan star's £132million release clause. Leao sees his contract at the San Siro expire at the end of next season, but the Rossoneri are hoping to tie the forward down to a new long-term deal.
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Leao has been closely watched by Chelsea since joining the Italian giants in 2019, football.london understands. It's said that talks between Milan and the Portugal international's entourage over a new contract have been ongoing for a while but an agreement is yet to be reached.
After welcoming Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke to west London in January, it remains to be seen whether the Blues will reignite interest in Leao. Graham Potter has a wealth of attacking options to choose from now — not to mention the potential arrival of Christopher Nkunku in the summer.
Speaking on BT Sport, Jermaine Jenas described the Portuguese star as somebody who 'strikes fear into a lot of defenders'. The former Tottenham midfielder said: "He seems to have everything at the moment, doesn't he?
"At such a young age he strikes fear into a lot of defenders, he's getting himself enough goals and assists and I think doing it at a club like Milan at that age tells you a lot about the player.
"He had a little bit of something with his contract situation that I thought he handled really well during the January transfer window that I thought tells you a little bit about his character as well, he’s not going to be forced down a road. Milan will hope that he sticks around for a lot longer, and at that age to be a at a club like Milan doing what he’s doing, he’d be smart to as well.
"We'll see what the future holds, but tonight he's a massive, massive threat for a Spurs side that struggles to keep a clean sheet."
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