Tottenham Push for Rafael Leão With De Zerbi in 2026 North London

Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in concrete negotiations to sign AC Milan forward Rafael Leão, with new Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi personally championing the €60 million deal.
• AC Milan are open to selling Leão and have set an asking price in the range of €60 million, though a loan with an obligation to buy has also been discussed as a possible structure.
• Agent Jorge Mendes, who previously facilitated Mateus Fernandes’ move to Spurs and has strong ties to Milan after helping bring Gonçalo Ramos to the Italian club, is expected to play a key role in negotiations.
• Journalist Enzo Bucchioni claims the move has a “high chance of success”, with Milan believing Spurs can afford the fee and that the Portugal international is keen on a new challenge.
• Leão has previously mentioned Manchester United and Arsenal as possible destinations, raising the question of whether he would accept a move to Tottenham, a club currently without European football.
• Milan are reshaping their squad and could use funds from Leão’s sale to reinvest elsewhere, while also removing a major salary from their wage bill.
• The deal remains uncertain because of Spurs’ lack of Champions League/Europa League status and the extent of Leão’s interest in De Zerbi’s project at north London.

Tottenham (North London News) July 7, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly advancing a serious bid for AC Milan winger Rafael Leão, with new Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi personally pushing for the €60 million forward to join his north London project. According to journalist Enzo Bucchioni, Tottenham now have a “strong chance” of securing the Portugal international, as Milan are open to his departure and have indicated an asking price around €60 million.

The proposed transfer has quickly become one of the most watched summer stories in English football, with De Zerbi’s ambition, Jorge Mendes’ involvement, and Leão’s own desire for a new challenge all converging at a moment when Tottenham are reshaping their squad after a season without European football.

As reported by Bucchioni, the deal has a “high chance of success”, with Milan believing their price should not be a major problem for Tottenham.

How serious is De Zerbi’s interest in Rafael Leão for Tottenham?

De Zerbi is said to be leading Tottenham’s pursuit of Leão and wants the 27-year-old forward in his squad for the next season.

Italian media and transfer journalists have described the move as personal to the coach, with De Zerbi viewing Leão as a profile that can add pace, directness, and goal threat to Spurs’ attacking options.

According to reports summarised by Bucchioni, De Zerbi has made clear that Leão is a priority as Tottenham continue their ambitious summer rebuild following major midfield deals for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

While Tonali and Fernandes have already been completed, the De Zerbi project is not considered finished. FootballPlace and other outlets note that Spurs’ push for Leão is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the front line and add a high-profile name to a squad that has struggled to compete for major honours in recent seasons.

The involvement of De Zerbi himself in steering the move suggests this is not a passive interest but a targeted, coach-driven operation.

What is AC Milan’s position on selling Rafael Leão?

AC Milan are reportedly open to selling Leão and have set an asking price in the range of €60 million. According to coverage of the situation, Milan are reshaping their squad under new management and are not expected to stand in Leão’s way if the right offer arrives.

Selling the Portuguese attacker would provide a significant transfer fee and remove one of the club’s biggest salaries from the wage bill, funds that could then be reinvested elsewhere in the squad.

The willingness of Milan to move on Leão at this stage is linked to their broader squad planning. By freeing up a substantial portion of their wage structure and generating cash, Milan can target other areas of the pitch while still retaining a strong competitive position in Italy.

As reported by multiple sources, Milan believe their €60 million asking price should not be a major problem for Tottenham, which suggests the Italian club views Spurs as financially capable of meeting their valuation.

How could Jorge Mendes influence the Tottenham–Leão deal?

Jorge Mendes could play an important role in negotiations, given his existing relationships with both Tottenham and AC Milan. The agent was involved in Mateus Fernandes’ move to Spurs and also has a strong relationship with Milan after helping take Gonçalo Ramos to the Italian club.

That connection has increased confidence among those monitoring the situation that an agreement can be reached, with Mendes potentially acting as a bridge between the clubs and Leão’s representatives.

Mendes’ track record in facilitating high-profile transfers between England, Italy, and Portugal adds weight to the idea that this deal could be concluded more smoothly than some other complex moves.

His prior work with Fernandes at Spurs and Ramos at Milan means he understands the internal dynamics of both clubs and can help structure a deal that satisfies financial, sporting, and contractual considerations.

According to Bucchioni, Mendes’ involvement has further strengthened the belief that the deal has a “high chance of success”.

What transfer structures are being discussed for Leão?

While a straight €60 million sale is the baseline expectation, a loan with an obligation to buy has also previously been suggested as a possible structure for the transfer.

This type of arrangement can ease the immediate financial burden on Tottenham while still giving Milan a guaranteed future payment if certain conditions are met.

Such models are often used when clubs want to manage cash flow, wage structures, or risk around player performance.

The fact that multiple structures are being discussed indicates that both clubs are trying to find a framework that works within their respective financial planning. For Milan, an obligation to buy provides security;

for Tottenham, a loan component could allow them to spread the cost and manage the impact on their wage bill. As reported in coverage of the situation, the central issue is not just the headline fee but how the deal is structured to fit both clubs’ long-term strategies.

Would Rafael Leão accept a move to Tottenham without European football?

The biggest uncertainty in the deal is whether Leão would accept Tottenham. Leão has already spoken about wanting a new challenge, although he previously mentioned Manchester United and Arsenal as possible destinations.

The biggest question now is whether Spurs’ project, led by De Zerbi, can convince him to choose north London over clubs that may offer Champions League or stronger on-pitch profiles.

Spurs have not qualified for European football, and it remains unclear whether De Zerbi’s project would be enough to convince Leão to move to north London. For a player of Leão’s profile, the absence of European competition is a significant factor, as it affects both sporting ambition and personal visibility.

According to reports, Leão’s decision will likely depend on how much he believes in De Zerbi’s vision, the level of ambition shown by Tottenham in the transfer market, and whether the club can offer a realistic pathway back to European football in the near future.

How does this fit into Tottenham’s summer rebuild?

Tottenham have already completed major midfield deals for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but their ambitious summer rebuild is far from finished.

According to journalist Enzo Bucchioni, the pursuit of Leão is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the squad across multiple areas, with De Zerbi looking to add a high-profile attacker to complement his existing options. The Leão move, if successful, would represent one of the most significant arrivals of the summer for Spurs.

This rebuild is being framed as a long-term project, with the club aiming to move away from seasons without major honours and into a more consistent top-four and competition-winning phase.

Bringing in Leão at a premium price would signal that Tottenham are willing to invest heavily in quality, even without the immediate lure of European football.

As reported by Bucchioni and others, the club’s confidence in affording the fee reflects their belief that this is a necessary step in their overall plan.

Background: The development of Rafael Leão’s transfer situation

Rafael Leão has been one of the most prominent young forwards in European football since breaking through at AC Milan, where he established himself as a key attacking player capable of scoring and creating goals at a high level.

His speed, dribbling, and ability to play across the front line have made him a frequent target for clubs across England, Italy, and beyond. Over recent seasons, speculation about his future has grown, with several top clubs monitoring his situation as Milan reassess their squad composition and financial planning.

The current development arises at a moment when Milan are reshaping their squad and are prepared to consider offers for Leão, while Tottenham are seeking to add high-calibre attacking talent under De Zerbi.

The involvement of Mendes, the discussions around fee and structure, and Leão’s own expressed interest in a new challenge all point to a situation that has moved beyond vague speculation into genuine negotiation. This background sets the stage for a potentially landmark transfer that could reshape both clubs’ attacking options in the coming seasons.

Prediction: How this development could affect Tottenham supporters and North London

If the deal is completed, Tottenham supporters and the wider North London community could see a significant shift in the club’s attacking profile. Leão’s pace, goal threat, and experience at a high level in Italy would give Spurs a more direct and dangerous option in the final third, potentially increasing the team’s competitiveness in the Premier League and improving their ability to chase top-four positions.

For fans, this could translate into more exciting attacking displays and a stronger sense that the club is moving forward under De Zerbi.

However, the absence of European football remains a key factor that could influence how the move is perceived. Some supporters may worry that bringing in a player of Leão’s profile without Champions League or Europa League football limits the club’s ability to attract and retain top talent over time.

If Tottenham fail to return to European competition in the near future, there is a risk that the excitement around the signing could be tempered by concerns about the club’s long-term trajectory.

For North London, the deal would also add to the narrative of Tottenham as a club willing to invest heavily in its rebuild, which could further intensify the local football conversation around Spurs’ ambitions compared with their neighbours.