‘The club wants’: Coach issues blow to Liverpool & Man City for £127m target

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AC Milan head coach Stefan Pioli has revealed the club are set to offer star attacker Rafael Leao a new contract amid interest from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Speaking to the press via Fabrizio Romano, the Serie A-winning manager claimed that discussions are taking place behind the scenes to offer Leao a new contract, who this weekend scored a brace in Milan’s 3-2 win against Inter Milan in a frantic Derby della Madonnina.

Leao was last season one of Milan’s most important players as the Rossoneri won the Scudetto for the first time in over a decade, with the Portuguese international’s performances reportedly catching the eyes of City and Liverpool, with Chelsea also believed to be interested in the former LOSC Lille star.

With a reported release clause of £127m, Leao being offered a new contract could dramatically increase this figure to something that neither City or Liverpool will be willing to pay despite the versatile attacker’s incredible quality and frightening potential.

Indeed, Leao is one of the most exciting forwards in Europe, and for Pioli, Milan are making moves away from the pitch to ensure that the attacker commits his future to the Serie A champions, which each big-game performance attracting more interest from Europe’s biggest sides.

Pioli said when asked about Leao’s future with Milan: “The club wants to offer Leao a new deal soon. They will take care of it, he’s working at the best level. He’s not creating any problem, he’s just working hard as a top professional.”

Milan offering Leao a new contract could ruin City & Liverpool’s plans

At 23, Leao is well on his way to becoming one of the best attackers in world football, and with the forward already at the top of his game with Milan, the Italian giants offering the youngster a new contract could end City and Liverpool’s plans of one day bringing the Portuguese star to the Premier League.

After all, Leao has developed a lot in the last 12 months at Milan, and this season looks set to play stage to the youngster’s best year yet as a professional, and remaining at the San Siro just makes sense for the versatile forward despite interest from City and Liverpool.