AC Milan make Easter deadline for explosive £80m Man Utd, Man City forward target to decide on next move

AC Milan have reportedly set an Easter deadline for a Manchester United and Manchester City summer attacking target to make up his mind over his future.
Portugal international forward Rafael Leao has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League since last summer, with Chelsea particularly keen on trying to strike a deal in the last two transfer windows.
However, it’s the two Manchester clubs who are both said to be at the front of the queue for his signature now.
And it appears that Milan are keen to get Leao’s future resolved as soon as they can. Indeed, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the reigning Serie A champions want a new meeting with the entourage of the 23-year-old within 10 days or a maximum of 15.
They are hoping that by then they can make substantial progress over new contract talks after what has been a long and drawn-out saga.
The report adds that the next meeting could end up being a definitive one in terms of whether Leao remains at the San Siro or is sold this summer.
It’s believed that the player himself is keen on staying. However, there are other factors at play, with a report on Sempre Milan claiming that lawyer Ted Dimvula and agent Jorge Mendes could look to ‘seek fortune somewhere else’.
Milan panicking over Leao stay
Milan are therefore in somewhat of a hurry to find a conclusion over the upcoming Easter holiday.
However, it looks fairly concrete that Leao will either renew his contract that runs out in the summer of 2024 or be sold over the next few months so Milan can maximise his price.
The €16m fine owed to Sporting Lisbon is also hanging over the entire negotiation as Leao wants some help from Milan in paying it plus a €7.5m net salary and a signing bonus.
The Rossoneri, meanwhile, are offering a slightly lower salary with other bonuses linked to personal and team targets. However, that does not include them participating in the payment of the fine.
As to where Leao would fit in at the two Manchester clubs, his preference to play out wide appears to suit City more.
United are known to be looking for more of an out-and-out No.9, and although Leao can play centrally it’s not his strength. In many ways that makes him too similar to what Marcus Rashford brings to Erik ten Hag’s side.
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