Manchester City are reportedly prepared to offer AC Milan star Rafael Leao a £10.6m-a-year salary in an attempt to lure him to the Etihad Stadium.
The 23-year-old, who has been strongly linked with a big-money move away from San Siro, is expected to become one of the most sought-after attackers when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.
Leao was a standout performer for Milan in their Scudetto-winning 2021-22 campaign and was named Player of the Year after recording 11 goals and 10 assists in 34 Serie A appearances.
The Portugal international, who represented his country at the 2022 World Cup, has since contributed with seven goals and nine assists in 20 games for the Rossoneri this season across Serie A and the Champions League.
Leao faces an uncertain future with Milan as he is understood to have stepped back from contract negotiations with the club, with his current deal set to expire in June 2024.
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Man City are believed to be one of a number of clubs keen to sign Leao and a recent report claims that the Citizens are prepared to offer Jack Grealish in exchange for the Portuguese attacker.
The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Leao, but Pep Guardiola's side are hoping fend off stern competition by tabling a big-money contract offer.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, City have a "serious" interest in Leao and are willing to offer the attacker a yearly salary package worth €12m (£10.6m), which equates to just over £200,000 per week.
Leao is said to be earning only €1.8m (£1.6m) a year – roughly £30,000 per week – on his current contract at Milan, and the Italian champions are only prepared to increase his salary to €7m (£6.2m), less than half what City are willing to pay.
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Milan president Paolo Scaroni recently stated that he remains hopeful Leao will commit his future to the club, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: "They tell me that in Milan he is very well off, that he is motivated.
"I know that [Paolo] Maldini (Milan's director) is negotiating with him and as far as I just said if he negotiates, I'm calm."
However, Leao has recently talked up a potential future move to England during an interview with RDP Africa and he has also spoken of his admiration for Arsenal.
"Yes, in the future," Leao said when asked about his desire to play in the Premier League. "But now I'm 100% focused on Milan. I'm at a top club and I'm under contract. I also like the city of Milan.
"I've seen a lot of [Arsenal] games this year. I like Arsenal, I think they play very well."
Leao is expected to be available to play for Milan when they return to Serie A action against Salernitana on January 4.
Oliver Thomas
