Everton target Leao will command £43.4m transfer fee
Everton will need to spend at least £43.4million in order to sign former target Rafael Leao from AC Milan this summer, according to a report from Italy.
CalcioMercato reported in January that Milan had rejected an offer worth around £26million (€30million) for the Portuguese forward from Everton, while La Voix Des Sports reported in July 2019 that the Toffees wanted the then Lille starlet.
Now Everton could face competition from Wolves if they were to reignite their interest this summer, with Leao’s stock having risen over the course of the current campaign.
CalcioMercato claim that Milan are convinced that they have landed a real talent in the 21-year old forward and see him as “the future”. As such they would need to see a major return on their initial investment to tempt them into selling.
The report stresses that Leao is not on the market this summer, however if a bid that exceeds £43.4million (€50million) was made it would create conflict between the desires of the club’s managerial team and the club’s boardroom.
Tough target to land
Rafael Leao has impressed for Milan this season, so much so that it’s difficult to imagine Everton having any chance of signing him.
Should Milan decide that they’re open to allowing him to leave the San Siro, particularly considering his age, Leao could attract a number of top-class suitors in the summer.
However with Carlo Ancelotti’s reputation and reach nothing should ever be ruled out completely.
Leao has managed six goals and five assists in Serie A this season, and though his goal figures don’t compare to those of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he easily trumps him in the way of assists.
Leao averages more touches in the opponent’s box [4.18] per 90 minutes than Calvert-Lewin [3.59] does this season (via WyScout), and while touches don’t necessarily lead directly to goals it certainly doesn’t do any harm having someone more active in the final third.
With Josh King looking unlikely to extend his current contract on Merseyside the Blues need an additional attacker ahead of next season and Leao could be someone worth looking at – even if that means breaking the club’s (£45million on Gylfi Sigurdsson) transfer record in the process.
In other Everton news, Rio Ferdinand thinks Manchester United should sign ‘fantastic’ Everton ace.
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