'A trusted source told me' - Liverpool offered Rafael Leao
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Credit: Getty, Hasan Karim - Breaking Media
Edward Bazeley
Mon 1 September 2025 15:22, UK
Liverpool rejected the chance to sign AC Milan and Portugal star Rafael Leao this summer.
Arne Slot has bolstered his attack this summer, as Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle.
However, the Reds did not take up the opportunity to sign winger Leao, who notched 12 goals and 11 assists for Milan last season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are expected to sign Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day, while the England international would strengthen a defence that has been leaky in the Premier League this term.
Credit: Imago
While Liverpool are set to conclude a highly successful transfer window with the acquisitions of Isak and Guehi, they opted against signing Leao to bolster their wide options.
Writing for the Daily Mail‘s live transfer blog [1 September, 1.59 pm], Lewis Steele revealed: “A trusted source in Italy has told me an interesting line in the last day or so, when chatting about Joe Gomez’s potential move to AC Milan (which is now unlikely).
“I am told the Reds were offered the chance to sign Milan’s Portuguese winger, Rafael Leao, in the last month, but passed on the chance.
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“Apparently Milan also tried to sign Federico Chiesa but, similarly, that was rejected.”
Credit: Imago
Football Insider verdict
Leao has proven himself as one of the best wingers in Serie A in recent seasons and excelled for an otherwise struggling Milan side, who finished just eighth in the Italian top flight last term.
Rafael Leao statsSerie A 2024/25Appearances34Goals8Assists8Leao was a key asset for Milan last term
The 26-year-old’s performances for the San Siro giants indicate that he could be ready to make the switch to the Premier League.
However, Slot made the right choice in rejecting the opportunity to sign the Portugal international, as he already boasts some of the best wingers in the world, such as Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Therefore, Leao could have struggled for game time at Anfield if he moved to Merseyside from Milan.
Meanwhile, even fellow forward Chiesa, who made just one start in the Premier League last season, scored as Liverpool won 4-2 against Bournemouth in their opening top-flight game this term.
Elsewhere, football commentator Ian Darke has outlined what the future could hold for Reds starlet Rio Ngumoha in a Liverpool News 247 exclusive.