Report: Man City's Foden offered to Milan as possible Leao replacement
Quick summary
Reports suggest Manchester City have offered Phil Foden to AC Milan as a potential replacement should Rafael Leao depart the Italian club.
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Attributed to original sourcePhil Foden’s name has landed on Milan’s desk, with the Manchester City playmaker proposed to the Rossoneri as a potential reinforcement for their attacking midfield.
According to Claudio Raimondi of SportMediaset, via MilanNews.it , an intermediary has offered Foden to several clubs, Milan among them, and the Italians are giving the profile genuine thought.
The England international is coming off a difficult season that saw relations with City grow strained, to the point that Thomas Tuchel left him out of the World Cup squad, and with his contract expiring in 2027, he has no intention of renewing.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Leao sale could fund a Foden move for Milan The numbers are considerable but not impossible.
City’s asking price sits at €50-60 million, a fee Milan believe could be covered almost entirely by the sale of Rafael Leao , from whom they hope to raise roughly the same amount.
Wages present little obstacle either, with both players earning in the region of €7-7.5 million per season, making the operation close to a straight swap in financial terms.
Two dominoes would need to fall first, though. Leao’s departure, with his camp prioritising a European move and Tottenham among the interested parties, remains unresolved, and City would reportedly only sanction Foden’s exit after landing a marquee replacement of their own, with Enzo Fernández described as their dream target.
For now, then, this is a scenario rather than a negotiation: a proposed name, a plausible funding route, and a chain of conditions that would all need to align. But as a statement of the calibre Milan are contemplating for the post-Leao era, it is a striking one.
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What happened
According to Football Italia, Manchester City have put Phil Foden on the table as a transfer option for AC Milan, who are bracing for the possible exit of star forward Rafael Leao. The move would represent a significant shift for Foden, who has been a key figure at City but has seen his role diminish. Milan are reportedly exploring attacking reinforcements in case Leao leaves, with Foden emerging as a high-profile candidate. No fee or formal negotiation has been confirmed at this stage.
Chance analysis
This is a speculative transfer link connecting two high-profile clubs. For Manchester City, offloading Foden would free up wages and squad space as Pep Guardiola reshapes his attack. For Milan, acquiring a player of Foden's caliber would be a marquee signing but would require significant financial commitment, especially in a potential swap scenario around Leao. The reliability of the report is uncertain, and both players' market values make a straight deal complex.
If confirmed, Man City lose a versatile attacking option while Milan gain a high-ceiling replacement, but the rumor remains unverified.
Treat as a low-confidence transfer rumor; monitor for official confirmation before adjusting any team-strength assumptions.