Could Rafael Leao become Aston Villa’s new record signing? The Premier League newcomers reportedly want the new Kylian Mbappe.
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in bringing Portugal’s answer to Kylian Mbappe to the Premier League with SuperDeporte claiming that Lille wonder-kid Rafael Leao is on the radar of the Midland side.
Just one year ago, the little-known forward moved to France after cancelling his contract at Sporting Lisbon following a series of off-the-pitch issues at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
And Sporting must now be wondering how much money they have missed out on. Leao scored eight goals to fire Lille into the Champions League last season but the statistics only tell half the story.
This jet-heeled 20-year-old is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young forwards in European football, earning comparisons with PSG and France superstar Mbappe (BBC).
Former Sporting coach Tiago Fernandes even told L’Equipe that Leao is the best player ever to emerge from the club’s famous academy, claiming that the winger’s potential exceeds that of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
No wonder, then, that Lille will refuse to sell their coveted starlet for a penny less than £25 million.
Aston Villa would have to shatter a transfer record they set just last month when they landed Wesley Moraes from Genk. But a forward who is apparently better than Ronaldo at the same age? That could be £25 million well spent.
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