Manchester City ready to move for €150m 'new Thierry Henry', after he turns DOWN Real Madrid and Chelsea: report

ByMark White
published

曼城在p得到提振ursuit of 'the new Thierry Henry', who has turned down two other giants

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the touchline against Manchester United
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester City have been left as the last competitor realistically able to sign a played dubbed "the next Thierry Henry".

Pep Guardiola's side are still in the hunt for an incredible treble after beating Arsenal at the Etihad 4-1 and keeping hopes alive for a third Premier League title in a row – but are still eyeing new recruits to strengthen even further.

ThoughManchester Cityhave pivoted towards using creative midfielders like Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish on the flanks with Erling Haaland up front, a move for a wide forward with 1v1 ability is still rumoured to be on the agenda.

Erling Haaland scores against Arsenal

曼城不是解决当前squad, despite being on for a treble (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to theManchester Evening News(opens in new tab), City have an interest inAC Milanstar Rafael Leao, whohas been compared to Thierry Henry(opens in new tab)in the past for his leggy dribbling style, stature and right-footed and penchant for cutting in on the left flank.

Leao is a wanted man right now, having fired theRossonerito a Scudetto last term and a Champions League semi-final lately. His future is up in the air, too, having recently toldSky Sport Italia(opens in new tab),"I want to stay here at Milan, yes – but there are some things to resolve."

Now,Gazzetta Dello Sport(opens in new tab)are reporting that Leao has rejected advances fromChelseaandReal Madridas his contract saga rumbles on.

City may well take this as either positive or negative. On the one hand, these rejections leave the Premier League champions as the most likely destination for the Portuguese – though Leao's insistence that he wishes to remain in Milan is a major hurdle.

Rafael Leao of AC Milan controls the ball during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC Milan at Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli, Italy on 1 October 2022.

Rafael Leao is wanted by a host of European giants (Image credit: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The 23-year-old apparently has a €150 million release clause and is out of contract in just over a year's time. Though Milan are hoping to tie up a deal with their talismanic forward, there is still a fair chance that they could fail to do so and be forced to sell before letting him leave for nothing.

Leao is valued at €80m byTransfermarkt(opens in new tab).

More Manchester City stories

WithErling Haaland breaking goal records a-plenty, Pep Guardiola said thatManchester City are monitoring the striker's fitness "24 hours a day".

Ilkay Gundogan is rumoured to be a major targetfor Barcelona this summer, whileGuardiola has explained why major City stars are being subbed early. OneBurnley star has toldFFTthat Vincent Kompany could manage the Citizensone day.

Meanwhile,one supercomputer has predicted the Premier League title run-in going down to the wire, while another haspredicted them to win the Champions League.

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Mark White
Mark White
Staff Writer

Mark White has been a staff writer onFourFourTwosince joining in January 2020, writing pieces for both online and the magazine. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals forFFTand has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He once saw Tyrone Mings at a petrol station in Bournemouth but felt far too short to ask for a photo.