Manchester City move into pole position to sign out-of-contract Milan star

STADIO RENATO DALL'ARA, BOLOGNA, ITALY - 2021/10/23: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) of AC Milan celebrates with Pierre Kalulu (L), Davide Calabria and Rafael Leao (R) of AC Milan after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between Bologna FC and AC Milan. AC Milan won 4-2 over Bologna FC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO RENATO DALL'ARA, BOLOGNA, ITALY - 2021/10/23: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) of AC Milan celebrates with Pierre Kalulu (L), Davide Calabria and Rafael Leao (R) of AC Milan after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between Bologna FC and AC Milan. AC Milan won 4-2 over Bologna FC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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According to recent reports, Manchester City are now in pole position to sign one of Serie A’s hottest properties, who is said to be out of contract at the end of the season.

The player in question is AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.

Leao has been one of AC Milan’s best players over the past few seasons, joining the Italian giants in 2019 and since then has gone on to score 18 times for the club.

The 22-year old is fully supported by the club as they see him as someone who can go to become an even more special player in the future.

Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, directors of AC Milan, are said to be working quite closely with Leao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, to fight off interest from some of Europe’s top clubs including Manchester City.

Manchester City are in the market for a striker and already have a long list of potential signings, which include names like Erling Haaland, Dusan Vlahovic, Kylian Mbappe and, Raul Jiminez.

Man City did try singing Harry Kane last summer, but the negotiations fell through and Kane stayed in London.

City have also been linked to AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez.

However, Manchester City will look to sign a no.9 in January and they can get a bargain in Leao if the Portuguese decide to not renew his contract with the club.

However, the same report from SempreMilan suggests that Leao is more than happy to snub clubs like Man City to sign a new contract with AC Milan which will be worth €4 million a year.

The 22-year-old, who can operate centrally or on the left flank, is on five goals and two assists so far this campaign and can become an actual world beater under a coach like Pep Guardiola.

Next. Manchester City make key decisions ahead of the winter window. dark

However, if City do want to sign him they will have to move quickly since clubs like Everton and Wolves are also interested in him.

Do you think Leao would be a good addition to Manchester City’s squad?