Chelsea FC’s attacker hunt has taken them to Milan and Munich, with Rafael Leao and Serge Gnabry rumoured to be among the targets the club is monitoring. As per Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella, Thomas Tuchel and Co have earmarked the pair as alternative options after losing key transfer target Raphinha – and reported target Ousmane Dembele – to FC Barcelona.
Nonetheless, the London side is already on the verge of signing one forward this summer, at least, after agreeing on a fee and personal terms for Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling.
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Chelsea had hoped to sign both Sterling and Raphinha this summer – after offloading Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan for a loan spell. However, the Brazilian is instead closing in on a move to Barcelona, who, despite their financial troubles, have managed to present an offer of 58 million euros plus add-ons to Leeds United for the player’s services, which the Whites are likely to accept as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s proposed moves for Leao and Gnabry could hit a snag, too, due to fears that both players are using the Blues’ alleged interest as a means to leverage new and improved contract offers at their current clubs.
Leao, who was voted Serie A’s Player of the Season for 2021/22, has been in talks with AC Milan over a renewal since the end of the season – one which would increase his current release clause of 127 million pounds.
On the other hand, Gnabry, as per Sky Germany, has no interest in switching to Chelsea due to his previous association with London rivals Arsenal; the now 26-year-old spent a short while with the Arsenal youth team and played for the senior one 18 times in three years. The German international has been tied to Bayern since 2017 but is yet to extend his current deal beyond the 2023 expiration date.
