Aston Villa lead race for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao as Unai Emery makes personal calls ahead of September deadline to revive a floundering attack

Aston Villa are racing to sign AC Milan winger Rafael Leao as Unai Emery makes personal calls to close the deal before the September 1 deadline, hoping to plug a forward‑line void exposed by a 4‑0 defeat to Brighton and the imminent departure of Ollie Watkins.

Forward line gap after Brighton defeat

The Villans’ opening Premier League loss highlighted a shortage of firepower, especially after star striker Ollie Watkins asked to leave for Al Hilal. Departures of Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa have already thinned the squad, while new arrivals such as Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka aim to fill the void.

Financial structure of the Leao bid

Matteo Moretto explained that Villa altered the deal structure, moving from a loan‑with‑obligation‑to‑buy to a permanent transfer to meet Milan’s expectations. Galatasaray offered €12 million net, roughly £197,000 a week, whereas Villa capped its offer at €7‑8 million, about £134,000‑£153,000 weekly.

Emery’s personal calls with the player and his agents have clarified that the Portuguese international prefers the Premier League, even though Villa cannot match Galatasaray’s wage package. Jorge Mendes is reportedly helping bridge the financial gap to satisfy Milan’s demand for a permanent deal.

Galatasaray chase €45m Leao move as Turkish rivals watch

While Milan originally set a €45 million price tag plus bonuses for a permanent move, Villa’s revised proposal seeks to align with that figure without exceeding its salary ceiling. The club hopes the player’s desire for English football will outweigh the monetary shortfall.

Beyond Leao, Villa have already secured Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea and continue to reshape the squad before the transfer window closes. The combined activity reflects a strategic shift to reinforce attacking options while managing a difficult market.

By Daniel Feliciano AM GMT+1, the article’s author, after opting against university, worked with as a freelance contributor and translator, volunteered on various blogs, and joined Barnet FC’s social media team. He later founded a site covering football and MMA, then moved to Reach PLC Media, adding roles at The , Daily Record and Daily Express, before spending two‑and‑a‑half years with Breaking Media covering clubs such as Everton and Leeds, and finally becoming a Premier League editor at GiveMeSport.

Villa remain in the lead of the race, but finalising the transfer hinges on narrowing the salary gap and securing Milan’s agreement on a permanent fee. The next hours of negotiation will determine whether Rafael Leao completes the move before the September 1 deadline.