Report: Guardiola ‘really likes’ £127m Liverpool target approached by Chelsea

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly a big fan of AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao, who both Chelsea and Liverpool are also looking to sign in 2023.

According to CalcioMercato, the Catalan coach ‘really likes’ the 23-year-old attacker as City join the growing list of clubs interested in signing Leao, who was last season one of Milan’s most important players as the Italian giants won their first Serie A title in over a decade.

Leao was named the league’s MVP for last season, and this term has seen the Portuguese international continue his impressive form, with the youngster now attracting interest from City, as well as reportedly Liverpool and Chelsea, with the Blues even believed to have made a bid to sign the winger in the summer.

With a reported release clause of £127m, Leao would comfortably beat City’s Premier League-record transfer for Jack Grealish last year, with Milan also reportedly looking to renew the attacker’s contract in the coming weeks as an attempt to ward off interest from England.

Indeed, with reports suggesting that Jack Grealish wants to leave City next summer, the reigning Premier League champions could be in the market for a left-sided attacker, and Leao is one of the best players in this position in Europe, with Guardiola seemingly impressed with what he has seen from the Milan star.

A move could come down to whether Leao signs a new contract with Milan, though, and with the latest updates suggesting that the forward will pen fresh terms with the San Sirio giants, City could be left empty-handed if the 23-year-old decides to stay in Italy for the future.

City will need luck on their hands if they’re to sign Leao

Leao has quickly established himself as one of the most in-demand attackers in Europe based on his form over the past 12 months with Milan, yet if City are to win the race to sign the forward, they will need a bit of luck on their side in the 23-year-old rejecting a new deal with the Rossoneri.

After all, City already face a big problem in justifying matching Milan’s release clause for Leao, yet if the winger turns down the chance to remain in Italy, Guardiola could soon have his wish of bringing the Portuguese international to Manchester in 2023.