Chelsea have been handed a potential green light in their dogged pursuit of AC Milan’s Rafael Leao following the news the forward has decided against renewing his contract with the Italian champions. 

What’s the word?

Having held weighted interest in the Portuguese phenom for some time now, Chelsea might just now have the opportunity to instigate a transfer this winter, with Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg taking to Twitter to state that the 23-year-old is against a renewal of contract in Italy. 

Plettenberg said: “At this stage he doesn't want to extend beyond 2024. Not confident with the offer. Chelsea, City, Real in. CFC held talks about him in Qatar. Milan refused Chelsea's offer (€70m). They want €150m. The amount of the release clause.”

With Corriere Della Sera (via Sport Witness) recently stating that I Rossoneri were holding out for £86m, there is a marked increase in valuation now the club are resigned to selling their prized asset.

Next Salah

Since signing for the prominent Italian outfit from LOSC Lille for £30m in 2019, Leao has been a revelation, plundering 34 goals and 30 assists from 135 outings, winning the 2021/22 Serie A in the process. 

This season alone, the “superstar” as he has become known, has netted seven goals and assisted nine across just 20 appearances, and he is well on the way to recognition as one of the best forwards in the business. 

With such a monumental signing, a shifting of the tectonic plates that underpin Stamford Bridge, perhaps, Chelsea boss Graham Potter could have his very own Mohamed Salah at his disposal. 

Salah has been a signing of the highest calibre at Anfield, a symbolic changing of the rusty old guard and a spearhead for the immensely successful period under Jurgen Klopp’s tutelage. 

Scoring 170 goals and assisting 68 across just 275 fixtures for the Reds, predominantly from the right flank, the 2021/22 PFA Men’s Player of the Year has basked in a career littered in silverware and accolades on Merseyside.

The £129m-valued Leao would do well to take a leaf from his book, and combine his prowess in front of goal with a winning mentality that can catapult him towards prominence. 

And with both players often placed out wide, with devastating finishing and intrinsic movement made for the football pitch, Leao can certainly emulate the Egyptian's triumphant career.

As per FBref, the 16-cap star, who has been dubbed “sensational” by Andrew Gibney, is the second most comparable player to Salah as per the website's 'similar players' model.

Indeed, they rank the Portuguese within the top 15% for goals and the top 9% for assists when compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this past year.

And his ranking within the top 6% for dribbles completed, and 14% for touches in the attacking penalty box bears a further semblance to Salah, and should Chelsea sign they might just have their very own world-class star to push the club towards success.