Arsenal emerge as frontrunners for €80m Rafael Leao as Milan open door to summer sale

Arsenal have moved to the front of the queue in the race to sign AC Milan’s Rafael Leao after holding preliminary talks with the Portugal winger’s representatives, sources have confirmed. With the 26-year-old entering the final two years of his contract in June, Milan are prepared to consider offers in the region of €80 million, a valuation that has accelerated negotiations and placed the Gunners in pole position ahead of the summer window.

Football Transfers journalist Steve Kay first revealed the dialogue between the North London club and Leao’s camp, and subsequent developments indicate sporting director Andrea Berta has taken a hands-on role in discussions. While Manchester United retain a long-standing admiration for the player, Arsenal’s early engagement has given them a tangible advantage as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s wide attacking options.

Leao has been Milan’s joint-leading scorer in Serie A this season, matching Christian Pulisic with eight goals in 18 appearances, and his blend of raw pace, direct running and technical craft has marked him as one of Europe’s most coveted forwards. For Arsenal, the pursuit is rooted in a desire to add elite depth alongside Bukayo Saka, whose new contract through 2031 was confirmed this week and is viewed internally as a statement of intent rather than a barrier to further marquee additions.

Sources close to the Emirates Stadium say the club’s recruitment model is shifting toward proactive, early-window business to avoid the congestion and inflated fees that characterised previous summers. Leao’s profile fits the tactical brief: a high-ceiling winger capable of deciding tight matches while also providing the squad rotation essential for competing on Premier League and Champions League fronts.

Milan’s willingness to listen to offers around the €80m mark has transformed what began as exploratory interest into a credible negotiation. Structure and payment terms are expected to determine whether the Italian giants sanction a sale, yet the groundwork laid by Berta and Arsenal’s negotiators suggests genuine momentum rather than speculative posturing.

Arteta’s coaching staff believe the club’s structured pressing and positional framework could coax even greater consistency from Leao, whose occasional lapses in application have been scrutinised in Italy. Arsenal analysts have highlighted his ability to receive under pressure, drive into half-spaces and create overloads—attributes that dovetail with the side’s evolving identity.

From a fan perspective, the prospect of pairing Leao with Saka offers visions of a dual-threat attack capable of stretching deep blocks and altering the geometry of compact defences. Supporters have long urged the hierarchy to secure a second elite winger, and the Portuguese star’s potential arrival would signal that the club’s upward trajectory under Arteta remains intact.

Financially, the deal would rank among Arsenal’s most ambitious outlays, eclipsing recent marquee purchases and underlining a commitment to closing the gap on domestic and European heavyweights. With other areas of the squad also under review, negotiators must balance the books, yet the early clarity on Leao indicates he sits at the top of the summer shortlist.

As the window approaches, the race is far from concluded, but Arsenal’s head-start in direct talks positions them firmly as favourites to secure a player who could redefine the potency of their forward line.