AC Milan to hold fresh contract talks with Rafael Leao

AC Milan are planning to hold a new round of talks with star man Rafael Leao over a new contract next week, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.

Milan are prepared to offer Leao an annual salary of €5 million for the next five years, while also paying off the €9-10m compensation he current owes Sporting Lisbon.

Leao was a standout performer for his side last term, netting 11 goals and 10 assists in 34 league games.

He picked up the Serie A Player of the Year award as Stefan Pioli’s men got the better of city rivals Inter Milan to end their 11-year wait for the Scudetto.

The Portugal international has attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

However, his current employers are keen to keep hold of him, as confirmed by the Rossoneri sporting director Paolo Maldini.

“It’s true that clubs can chat, but we have not had any approaches [for Leao] after the transfer window closed,” Maldini told Mediaset Infinity (h/t Football Italia).

“Now Rafa has to concentrate on this season and he’s doing it very well.

“We’d like to have the contract sorted before the World Cup – in fact, we had hoped to get it done six months ago, but we need the right conditions.

“Our idea is to get it done before November 12, then we’ll see what happens.”

Leao and Milan were beaten for the second time in less than a week by Chelsea and now have work to do in their final two Champions League group stage matches to avoid an early exit.

The reigning Italian champions must now focus on bouncing back from Tuesday’s disappointing defeat when they travel to the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium to face Hellas Verona this weekend.