Milan could keep Leao after Nkunku put on sale with no big offers ready

With news Christopher Nkunku is on the market, it suggests Milan might be ready to keep Rafael Leao instead, and they could discuss a new contract.

Coach Ruben Amorim met with patron Gerry Cardinale today and they drew up a list of players who are for sale this summer, which somewhat surprisingly included Nkunku.

That has raised eyebrows among Milanisti, who suggest that it points to a complete lack of planning if just over a week before the start of the Serie A season, the striker is suddenly out of their vision.

Nkunku decision sparked by Leao problem

The turnaround is probably because the idea after investing almost €80m in getting Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain was to sell Rafael Leao and therefore fund a new winger.

However, the only offers that came in for the Portugal international were from Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, none of them near the €50m plus €10m asking price.

With all those clubs now looking elsewhere too, Leao is increasingly stranded at San Siro, months after declaring his time at the club was over and he wanted a new challenge.

With this in mind, and the fact his contract only runs to June 2028, it could well prompt a radical shift in strategy.

Sky Sport Italia claim that next week Leao will meet face to face with Milan patron Cardinale to discuss his future, recognising that the offers they expected simply have not materialised.

It is therefore possible they will begin discussing a new contract extension, probably at a lower or at least not improved salary, and he will try to finally achieve some sort of consistency under Portuguese coach Amorim.

If Nkunku is leaving along with Santiago Gimenez, it seems increasingly likely that Leao will remain.