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A marquee name has been associated with Elland Road, but the arguments against making a move are growing stronger by the day. Leeds United are reportedly still being linked with Rafael Leao, with Football Insider stating that the Premier League side are among the clubs keeping tabs on the AC Milan winger.

On the face of it, it is a major story. Leao is 27, has 49 caps for Portugal and has already claimed the Serie A MVP award. Very few players with that kind of profile suddenly become attainable for around €40 million. Even so, Milan’s valuation appears to say plenty in itself.

The Portugal forward went through a disappointing 2025/26 season, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in 29 Serie A appearances. Milan also failed to secure Champions League qualification on the final day, a bitter result for a club that expects to be competing regularly at the highest level in European football.

Leao now seems to be on his way out, with his agent Jorge Mendes working on a possible move to the Premier League. Leeds United have been named in the conversation. That, however, does not automatically mean Leeds should be making the call.

€40 million may sound appealing when the player in question is someone who, at his peak, can tear a defence apart almost on his own. But for Leeds United, the transfer fee would only be the starting point.

Leao is said to be earning roughly €150,000 per week at Milan. Matching those wages would place serious strain on Leeds’ wage structure, especially for a club that only returned to the Premier League last season and still has multiple areas in the squad that need strengthening.

Daniel Farke needs depth. He needs players capable of matching the physical demands posed by established Premier League teams. He needs solutions across the pitch. Spending a massive portion of the budget on one high-profile signing would represent a huge gamble. If Leeds United also had to break their current wage ceiling to get the deal done, the risk would increase even further.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 06: Rafael Leao #17 of Portugal arrives at the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.

Then there is the footballing aspect. Farke’s Leeds side have been shaped around discipline, work ethic and collective responsibility. Forward players are not excused from the hard graft. They are expected to press, get back into shape and keep running when the team are out of possession. That is where Leao starts to look like an awkward fit.

His defensive metrics have drawn criticism, with his work without the ball falling well short of Europe’s most hard-working forwards. A team can carry that kind of player if he is delivering exceptional numbers at the other end of the pitch. But that is the problem. Leao’s 2025/26 output was not exceptional. Nine goals. Three assists. For a player on elite-level wages, Leeds would need far more than the odd flash of quality.

This could be the biggest concern of all. Leao has never disguised his ambition to play at the very top level. Champions League football, major honours and elite opposition are what he wants. Leeds can offer a famous club, enormous backing and the opportunity to play in the Premier League once more. What they cannot offer, at least for now, is Champions League football.

Mendes is believed to be looking at other options as well, including clubs with far greater financial power. Manchester United and Manchester City have the means to make this a very different kind of discussion, while wealthy Turkish clubs are also capable of putting significant money on the table. For Leeds to come out on top in that race, the player would need to fully commit to the project.

The €40 million fee may ultimately be the least troubling part of the entire package. It is the wages, the tactical trade-off and the issue of motivation that should leave Farke reaching for a red pen rather than a contract file. There are cheaper, hungrier and most likely more suitable alternatives available. Leeds United would be better served pursuing one of those instead.