Manchester City ready to offer AC Milan stunning swap deal for Rafael Leao

Pep Guardiola is willing to let one of his Manchester City stars go, in order to secure the summer signing of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao.

It must be a pretty weird sight for Guardiola to see his own team struggling to keep pace with the one managed by his former assistant manager Mikel Arteta.

Whilst Erling Haaland is banging in the goals, and has already surpassed the amount he'd have needed to win the Premier League's Golden Boot for the past four years, the team are five points short of Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

At the moment there's a legitimate possibility that the Norwegian striker could end up with about 50 league goals and still not win the title!

Obviously there is still a long way to go, even if one bookies doesn't thinks so, as the pundits love to keep reminding us after each subsequent Arsenal victory, and the two clubs must play each other twice.

Guardiola's attention will be very much on winning a third title in-a-row, but he's also eyeing up strengthening his squad for next season already.

According to Calcio Mercato, he is eyeing up a move for AC Milan forward Leao in the summer, to add to his already ridiculous options, who has previously been strongly linked with Chelsea.

The report claims that the City boss is willing to use the Milan star's Portugal teammate Joao Cancelo as a makeweight in the deal.

Cancelo hasn't been on form recently. Image: Alamy

The full back was seen as integral to the way that City played but his form post World Cup has seen him get dropped by Guardiola.

He started the games against Chelsea and Manchester United but was replaced at half time in the former and City lost the Manchester derby.

Cancelo has been left on the bench for City's two games since that loss, with the side winning 4-2 against Tottenham Hotspur and 3-0 against Wolves.

Youngster Rico Lewis has been preferred at right back, whilst Nathan Ake has filled in at left back, with Kyle Walker also out of form.

As far as Leao is concerned, the Milan forward is extremely highly rated, scoring 11 goals as Stefano Pioli's side became champions last season.

However, his contract is due to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is yet to sign a new deal at the San Siro, so could walk away for free in 18 months.

Leao has been in excellent form again this season. Image: Alamy

Milan want to keep hold of the 23-year-old, and understandably considering he's got nine goals and nine assists in the current Serie A campaign, but could be forced to sell this summer if he doesn't sign a new deal.

City aren't the only ones reportedly interested in a swap deal for one of the Rossoneri's star players, with rivals United eyeing up Theo Hernandez.

Erik ten Hag could offer Diogo Dalot, who went on loan to the Italian's last season, as well as Anthony Martial as part of a deal for the French full back.