Milan's €60‑70m price tag on Leão pushes Premier League suitors

AC Milan have set an asking price of €60‑70 million for Portuguese striker Rafael Leão, with the option of a loan‑with‑obligation‑to‑buy deal for Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United. The club met with Leão’s entourage on the basis of this valuation, according to multiple sources.

Leão endured a difficult 2025‑26 campaign under coach Max Allegri, often deployed as a centre‑forward and reacting angrily when substituted early. Milan’s failure to qualify for the Champions League led to Allegri’s dismissal and the appointment of Ruben Amorim, yet the Rossoneri remain uneasy about retaining their top‑earner.

Leão’s contract runs until June 2028, and talks on an extension have stalled for months. Having been bought for a fee that rose to €49.5 million from LOSC in 2019, the €60‑70 million tag would generate a considerable profit for Milan.

So far, only Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have submitted formal proposals, but Leão has expressed a desire to join a Premier League or LaLiga side, as he told Portuguese media. His ambition aligns with interest from Manchester United, the primary candidate, while Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi were also mentioned.

The proposed structure could involve an initial loan with an obligation to purchase at the end of the season, simplifying the search for a suitable buyer. Such a mechanism would allow a club to integrate Leão immediately while deferring the full transfer fee.

Photographer Marco Luzzani captured Leão reacting during the Serie A clash between AC Milan and Juventus FC at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on 26 April 2026. The image underscores the striker’s visible frustration in a match that highlighted his unsettled season.

In a friendly on 6 June 2026 in Lisbon, Chile forward Felipe Faundez contested possession with Leão, an encounter photographed by Carlos Rodrigues. The snapshot illustrates Leão’s involvement on the international stage despite club turbulence.

For AC Milan, securing a €60‑70 million deal would relieve the financial burden of an unhappy player and provide a tidy exit before his contract expires. For Leão, a move to a Premier League or LaLiga club would fulfill his personal ambition and avoid a prolonged stint with a club that no longer values him.