CHELSEA offered AC Milan both Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic during their pursuit of Rafael Leao, according to reports.
The Portuguese winger looks set to pen a new five-year contract at the San Siro after the Blues attempted to lure him away last summer.
Chelsea chiefs Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali initially valued the player at £87million.
The Athletic report that in negotiations they offered both Ziyech and Pulisic separately to AC Milan to sweeten the deal.
However, the Serie A giants would not budge despite Chelsea’s valuation of their two stars declining in an attempt to secure Leao’s signature.
Milan held firm and demanded that they pay his £130million buyout clause.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
Chelsea went back in for him in January with Leao’s contract then set to expire in 2024.
But again their enquiry was turned down by Milan.
The West Londoners supposedly even still considered the move after the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, as they believed Leao could play as a striker.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
Chelsea will now have to move on from him as his new big money contract contains a £152million release clause.
Most read in Football
Leao was Serie A’s player of the season last term as he helped them win the league.
And this year his 13 goals and 13 assists have fired Milan to a Champions League semi-final.
Meanwhile, Ziyech and Pulisic have struggled for game time, having started just nine and ten games respectively this campaign.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
