Arsenal closely monitoring €50m-rated Portugal international ahead of summer move
Arsenal are reportedly the latest Premier League club to show an interest in AC Milan and Portugal striker Rafael Leao.
The 22-year-old star has also been linked with Wolves and Everton as he is currently on a brilliant run of form for the Serie A giants.
The player has not exactly been prolific since switching from Lille to the San Siro three years ago but is enjoying something of a purple patch at this moment, scoring five times in seven outings since the turn of the year.
That takes his tally to ten goals for the term, already his best return of any term in his career thus far, which has drawn attention from England.
Italian outlet La Repubblica report that the Gunners are now considering a swoop for Leao after losing out on Dusan Vlahovic last month as the striker left Fiorentina for Juventus.
The Arsenal connection may be helped by Rafael being compared to Gunners icon Thierry Henry by big names in the country.
I Rossoneri boss Stefano Pioli said of his player: ‘He reminds me so much of (Thierry) Henry. I think he has to convince himself and work hard on his head to try to be ambitious.
‘One with his means must think of reaching the top of the world, but talent isn’t enough. He has understood that he has to work in a certain way.’
Ex-Italy international Alessio Tacchinardi, who played with Thierry at Bianconeri, says he has been mocked for this comparison but believes Rafale looks the same as a young Henry.
‘The young Henry is the Leao of today,’ he told Tuttosport. ‘The characteristics of the two players are the same: you see the pace in one-on-ones and they always go on the outside to break through the opponent’s defence.
‘I was slaughtered on social media for this comparison. But just compare the videos and there’s nothing else to say, they’re the same.’
