Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that Chelsea will re-enter negotiations over a potential deal for Rafael Leao at the end of the season.
The Blues are said to have been in talks with Serie A holders AC Milan this summer in relation to a move for the Portuguese forward (The Times).
However, a transfer never transpired with the Italian giants unwilling to sanction a deal worth less than the £127m release clause in Leao’s contract.
Technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed that the Rossoneri received a bid for the 23-year-old starlet but the apparent fee of £61m plus add-ons was some way short of what Milan were after.
Leao is in discussions with his current employers over fresh terms as his current contract expires in 2024 but according to Corriere dello Sport via Daily Mail talks over a revised deal have ‘hit an impasse’.
Now Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that he expects Chelsea to test Milan’s resolve once more believing Leao to be an upgrade on Kai Havertz.
He said: “Leao is a bit more dynamic than Havertz. The way he plays is with more thrust and bursts and, at the moment, I genuinely think he is one of the most entertaining footballers in the world.
“Chelsea will be back for talks about him at the end of the season.”
Tipped by former coach Tiago Fernandes to have a ‘glorious’ career, Leao was directly involved in 26 goals in 42 appearances last season and he has hit the ground running this term with three goals and six assists in his first eight games.
Kai Havertz, meanwhile, has only managed one goal in a similar amount of matches and appears out of form ranking 12th among his teammates for average SofaScore match rating (6.75).
Now it appears that Chelsea could land another burgeoning talent to take his place but it remains to be seen whether or not Leao does indeed end up at Stamford Bridge, with Manchester City also reportedly interested.
