Chelsea can unlock transfer advantage in £78m race to sign Rafael Leao with clever appointment

Todd Boehly can unlock Chelsea a huge boost in the race to sign Rafael Leao by appointing Luis Campos as sporting director. The AC Milan forward was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent months and the Blues are said to be monitoring his situation.

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, as quoted by Milan News , the west Londoners are monitoring Leao’s fresh contract talks with the Rossoneri. The report adds that the 23-year-old wants in the region of £118,000-per-week and for Milan to contribute towards the £14million he was told to pay former club Sporting Lisbon.

In July, The Telegraph reported that Leao surfaced as an option for the west Londoners. Talk of a move to Chelsea cooled following the arrival of Raheem Sterling, but the the club eventually reignited interest late into the summer transfer window , according to the Times.

The report stated that Boehly was working on a deal to sign the Portugal international, with the possibility of ‘one or more’ Blues players being included in a player-plus-cash swap deal. A deal failed to materialise but it’s believed that Leao is still on Chelsea’s radar. The Blues could be just one appointment away from signing the youngster.

According to the Times, as quoted by Ben Jacobs , Boehly has held talks with PSG advisor Campos . The Portuguese transfer guru was a key component in the deal which saw Lille sign Leao in 2018. The £78million-rated forward admitted it was Campos who persuaded him to make the move. Speaking to the press in February 2019, as quoted by beinSPORTS, Leao said:

“When [Lille sporting director] Luis Campos called me to express his interest, I saw no reason to refuse. He told me about the project and introduced the team he was setting up.

“But what pushed me to come here was especially the possibility of having play time,” he added. “For the young player that I am, it is important to chain the matches in order to progress.

“What’s the use of being in a big club if I do not play? I prefer to play in a team that gives me play time and allows me to grow.”

While game time could again be a huge factor in potential negotiations, Chelsea can hand themselves a huge advantage by signing Campo as a sporting director. And, maybe he signs Leao once more?