Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in world football since Todd Boehly took the club over, and after embarrassing stumbles to begin his tenure, the American owner has the Blues back in the top four in the Premier League and with a real long-term outlook on taking the title from the grasp of the Liverpool and Manchester City battle.
Although Liverpool clearly have the leg-up in the 2024/25 season, Chelsea may only be a couple of high-impact summer 2025 transfer away from usurping the Reds – and the Citizens – as the kings of the English top flight.
This past summer, Chelsea added a couple of more ambitious winger signings to their existing attacking nucleus of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who made strides this season, in Pedro Neto of Wolves, Joao Felix of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and Jadon Sancho of Manchester United and Dortmund.
Rafael Leao has led a team to the championship before
But Chelsea may not be done there. According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Chelsea are back on the Rafael Leao train and have actually begun negotiations to sign the AC Milan superstar this summer.
Milan are suffering outside the top seven of Serie A this season and just lost a big Sunday night game to top-four contenders Lazio, 2-1, with the Portuguese international setting up the lone goal.
Per Fichajes, Leao could cost 100 million euros, which is right in line with previously rumored figures. Clubs like Barcelona have also been mentioned as possible suitors for the 2021/22 Serie A MVP.
Despite all the criticism he receives, Leao is obviously a game-breaking talent on the left wing. He helped carry Milan to the Serie A title in 2021/22 and the Champions League semifinals one season later, heroically beating Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, and eventual Serie A champions Napoli in the quarterfinal.
Leao could form a scary attacking group with Palmer as the playmaker, Jackson at striker, and either Neto or Noni Madueke taking up starting residence on the right wing – young Palmeiras star Estevao Willian will be coming in soon, too.
This season, Leao has quietly posted solid numbers for the Rossoneri with 6 goals, 6 assists, 3.4 combined dribbles completed and fouls won, and nearly 2 key passes per game.
Entering the prime of his career at 25, Leao isn’t without controversy, but at 100 million euros, he’d be a safer signing than similarly priced attacking transfers Chelsea have made in the past, namely the player he would be replacing on the left wing, Mykhaylo Mudryk.
