Barcelona have not been offered AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and are prioritising cheaper options for the left-wing position, according to the Daily Mail.
They are focusing on a move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. His signing would take a significant portion of their transfer budget, making a deal for Leao unlikely.
They were expected to sign Marcus Rashford permanently, but are now exploring another loan move for him.
Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup and Real Mallorca’s Jan Virgili are also on their shortlist. A move for either player would be costly.
Leao is not short of suitors despite Barcelona’s lack of interest
Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are monitoring the Portugal international.
United want to sign a new left-winger, while Liverpool are exploring the market for Mohamed Salah’s replacement.
City are looking to strengthen their squad due to Bernardo Silva’s imminent exit and other potential departures.
Madrid also want to freshen up their squad after a disappointing season, although they have quality options in wide areas, most notably Vinicius Junior.
Primarily a left winger, Leao can operate anywhere across the front line. He has blistering pace, good footwork and is decisive.
He has tallied 80 goals and 65 assists in 287 appearances, making him one of Milan’s most productive forwards. However, he offers little defensively and can be inconsistent.
The Rossoneri are open to selling Leao to ‘balance the books and work within financial guidelines’. He could leave for around £60 million.
Interested clubs would want a deal done before the World Cup, so they would not have to pay a higher fee if he impresses at the tournament.
