Rafael Leao has made it clear he wants to leave, but with no concrete suitors on the table, his stalled exit is now holding up the rest of Milan's summer, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.
This is the classic case of the move that has to happen before any other move can happen. Milan want to reinforce the attacking midfield, but the budget for it is tied up in Leao's wages and his sale value. Until he goes, the rest of the plan sits idle. And right now there is no sign of him going.
The numbers tell you how far the Portuguese has fallen. Four years ago, fresh off the Scudetto, Chelsea sent in a €100m offer and Milan turned it down flat. Today the Rossoneri would take €60m, and Gazzetta report they'd consider €50m a good outcome. The drop in valuation tracks the drop in performances, the injuries, the spells on the bench under Fonseca and Conceicao, and Allegri's decision to use him at centre-forward rather than off the left. Leao carries plenty of the blame himself.
The problem is the same one Milan hit with Theo Hernandez a year ago. A big name, a big wage, and an empty room when it comes to buyers. Leao's €7m salary including bonuses narrows the field before talks even begin. Agent soundings on behalf of Barcelona and Manchester United haven't turned into negotiations. His World Cup didn't move the needle either, one good night against Croatia with the assist for Goncalo Ramos, a goal in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, and little else to make Europe's elite pick up the phone.
Aston Villa are the one name that makes financial sense. They've cashed in on Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, they're in the Champions League, and they have the room to spend. Whether Unai Emery wants to bet on a player this streaky, and whether Leao fancies Villa, is another matter. The Premier League appeals to him more than Turkey, where Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce all have money to burn. He's also said no to Saudi Arabia, where Theo would happily reunite with him at Al-Hilal.
What Leao really wants is a permanent move to settle his future, a loan with an obligation to buy at most. He seems minded to wait for offers that tend to surface later in World Cup summers. In the meantime he flies to Australia with the squad for pre-season in around ten days. Milan won't leave him to train alone at Milanello, since that would only chip away at a price tag they're already struggling to protect.
The knock-on is the part that should worry supporters. Milan can only enter the race for Genk's Konstantinos Karetsas if Leao is sold first. Genk want €40m for the 17-year-old Greek and have already rejected €30m from Borussia Dortmund, so this isn't a cheap alternative Milan can fund another way.
The window is still 40 days from closing, so there's time for the picture to change. But as it stands, Leao's future, and with it the shape of Milan's attack, is stuck waiting on a bid that hasn't come.