Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia - October 25, 2022. AC Milan's Rafael Leao celebrates scoring.
Manchester City signing AC Milan forward Rafael Leao would ‘offer’ them something that they don’t already have, according to Sky Sports pundit Kevin Campbell.
The Lowdown: Two-horse race
The Premier League champions are believed to be battling it out with domestic rivals Chelsea to land the 23-year-old, despite him still having nearly two years remaining on his contract at the San Siro.
Reports last week suggested that the Italian giants are readying themselves to receive offers in the region of €120m (£105m) for the winger in the January market, having been one of their standout performers so far this season.
The Latest: Man City backed to sign Leao
Asked by Football Insider whether Leao would match the profile of player that City are looking to recruit, Campbell said: “The thing is, Leao would offer something that the other wingers at Man City do not.
“He will run in behind and stretch the pitch. [Raheem] Sterling and [Leroy] Sane used to do that. They were fabulous players for City and were difficult to deal with. They could come to feet or go in behind. That causes defences all sorts of problems.
“I understand why City are looking at Leao. He is a really good player. He has real pace. I could see it happening.”
The Verdict: Partner for Haaland?
Leao has been dubbed a ‘difference-maker’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and if he were to move to the Etihad Stadium, he would have the chance to create a formidable partnership with Erling Haaland.
The Portuguese gem has already made 15 goal contributions in just 19 appearances across all competitions this season and is averaging 3.5 shots per Serie A game.
Should City pay £105m for Leao?
Yes
No
For comparison, only Haaland (4.3) has a better shots-per-game average in the Premier League among Pep Guardiola’s current squad.
Given Leao’s outstanding numbers, it’s easy to see why City are tracking him, and there’s no denying he would appear to be a perfect fit. However, whether they would be willing to pay a staggering £105m for the 23-year-old remains to be seen.
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