Last summer, a swap deal involving Rafael Leao of AC Milan and the departure of Chelsea players Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic was a possibility. During their first transfer window, co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali proposed Leao to Milan. Leao is a Portuguese international. The 23-year-old was valued at £87 million by the Blues, but they wanted to include players in return to lower the cash price and complete the deal.
Milan was given Ziyech and Pulisic by Chelsea, but the Rossoneri promptly rejected their offer because they were unconvinced. They argued that the Blues' interest came too late in the transfer window and instead cited Leao's contract's £130 million release clause, which Boehly and Eghbali were unwilling to pay to avoid. Leao excelled in both of Chelsea's Champions League games against the Blues earlier in the season, and four months later, Chelsea made another attempt to sign him.