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Arsenal in fierce battle to sign AC Milan’s Rafael Leao

By on May 19, 2026

Arsenal are reportedly in a fierce battle to sign AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, as per Caught Offside.

Since moving to San Siro Stadium from LOSC Lille back in 2019, the Portuguese has established himself as one of the best attackers in Serie A, helping his side win a Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana.

However, the 26-year-old has featured as a rotational option under Massimiliano Allegri this season, starting only 25 matches across all competitions.

Still, he has showcased his productivity, making 13 goal contributions. Moreover, he has been helping his side to mount a top-four charge, sitting third in the table with 70 points from 37 matches.

Now, Caught Offside claim that although Leao still has a contract until 2028, Milan are prepared to cash-in on him this summer, and he has a £152m release clause. The Rossoneri are ready to accept a discount price but still want a significant fee.

Despite Leao’s recent struggles in Italy, he is a top-class player and can be unstoppable on his day. So, he isn’t short of potential suitors, and Arsenal have expressed their interest in him.

Moreover, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are in this race as well. The Red Devils are showing the most concrete interest in finalising the operation and are willing to include one of Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, or Manuel Ugarte in a part-exchange deal to reduce Milan’s asking price.

Leao to Arsenal

Apart from the Premier League clubs, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich are also interested in him. However, the Bavarian club are unlikely to make a move for him as they don’t want to seal the deal by matching Milan’s demands.

Leao is a 6ft 2in tall, extremely quick left-winger. He is technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, and is efficient in creating opportunities for fellow attackers.

The Portuguese is currently at the prime stage of his career and possesses the necessary physical attributes to flourish in the Premier League. So, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal should they purchase him.

However, Leao is an inconsistent player, and Arsenal might be better off exploring other options to strengthen the attacking department.