---
title: "Chelsea are ‘sensing an opportunity’ to sign Rafael Leao"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-rafael-leao-transfer-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2022-12-22T10:40:27Z"
modified: "2022-12-22T10:40:27Z"
---

# Chelsea are ‘sensing an opportunity’ to sign Rafael Leao

**[Chelsea](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-fc-news/) are now ‘sensing an opportunity’ to sign AC Milan winger Rafael Leao in the January transfer window, according to journalist Simon Phillips.**

### The Lowdown: Chelsea’s Leao interest

As per a report from [Football London](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/chelsea-contract-rafael-leao-transfer-25803878), Leao is a January possibility for Chelsea, but it is deemed more likely that they will wait for the summer before launching a serious attempt to sign him.

[CalcioMercato](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/chelsea-una-punta-a-gennaio-il-budget-per-leao-14549) claim that Milan would only see fit to allow the Portugal international to leave if they receive a bid of at least £70m, but a fresh update from Phillips claims that a move to Stamford Bridge could now be concluded this winter…

### The Latest: Phillips’ update

As a result of the 23-year-old’s contract being set to [expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-leao/profil/spieler/357164) in June 2024, and the player showing no signs of being willing to commit to a new one, Phillips believes that the Blues could finalise the transfer earlier than initially expected.

When asked about the Blues’ targets in January by [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88096134-chelsea-transfer-news-sense-opportunity-strike-deal-stamford-bridge), the journalist said:

*“One of them on the shortlist is obviously Rafael Leao.*

*“I think the intention there was to try and get him in during the summer but, at the moment, they’re sensing an opportunity due to his contract situation.”*

### The Verdict: Worth it?

Paolo Maldini, now technical director at Milan, hailed Leao as a ‘[diamond](https://twitter.com/sporx/status/1532090562958049284?s=20&t=tUhafmjGs03TWf3LiVwYTg)‘, and this has been displayed in his recent performances, dazzling defenders by completing an average of [3.01](https://fbref.com/en/players/20730eae/Rafael-Leao) dribbles per 90 minutes over the past year, a figure that places him in the 95th percentile compares to his peers.

The speedster [reached](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-leao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/357164) double figures for both goals and assists in the Serie A last season, highlighting the varied nature of his game, and he has started this campaign in even better form, registering just under one assist every other game, with [nine](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-leao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/357164) in 20 appearances.

Chelsea need a creative spark from somewhere if they are to mount a challenge for a top-four finish this season, having scored the least goals of any side in the top half of the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/), with [17.](https://www.premierleague.com/tables)

As such, the winger would be a fantastic and much-needed acquisition, even if Graham Potter has to match the reported £70m price tag.