Tottenham may be edging closer to finding their answer to life after Heung-min Son, with AC Milan’s Rafael Leão emerging as one of their most eye-catching attacking targets this summer. Since Son’s exit, Spurs have never quite managed to replace what he offered on the left, having spent a decade tormenting defences with his blend of pace, end product and creativity — a bar that’s proven hard to clear.
Neither Wilson Odobert nor Mathys Tel solved the problem last season. Given chances out wide, the two combined for only four league goals and three assists between them, underlining just how badly the club needs a genuine difference-maker in that position. Having already committed big money to rebuilding midfield through the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, Tottenham’s focus is expected to now turn toward the front line — and one name keeps coming up.
Leão is said to be high on Spurs’ shortlist, with reports suggesting he could be signed for a fee well below the €175 million release clause once built into his Milan contract. That sharp fall in valuation has drawn interest from several Premier League sides, and football analyst Andy Brassell believes Tottenham are well-placed to take advantage.
While Leão hasn’t consistently hit the heights that won him Serie A MVP during Milan’s 2021-22 title run, Brassell maintains his ability still ranks among the best in the game, pointing to a rare mix of speed, technique and flair capable of lifting an entire attack. He describes Leão as the type of player who needs just one flash of brilliance to remind everyone watching of his quality, with his burst of pace, close control and knack for gliding past opponents drawing comparisons to some of the sport’s most gifted attackers.
Even in what’s been viewed as an underwhelming spell by his own standards, his output has stayed solid. Brassell also suggested Leão has at times been unfairly judged, with his laid-back demeanour on the pitch sometimes mistaken for a lack of effort, while issues in his personal life have also weighed on his form. Regardless, he’s still widely regarded across Europe as one of the most naturally talented forwards around.
Encouragingly for Tottenham, Leão is said to want to stay in Europe rather than chase money elsewhere, and the Premier League is reportedly where he’d like to end up if he does leave Milan — which could open the door for Spurs. Brassell sees him as a major step up from Tottenham’s current wide options, capable of restoring the kind of explosive left-sided threat missing since Son left.
His adaptability would also mesh well with De Zerbi’s tactical approach, given his comfort playing wide, cutting inside, or finishing chances himself — exactly the sort of flexibility the Italian manager looks for. Brassell also floated the idea that De Zerbi’s exacting methods might be just what Leão needs to recapture the consistent form that once made him one of the continent’s most feared attackers. Should Tottenham manage to get a deal done at a cut-down price, it could end up being one of the summer’s smartest pieces of business — and possibly the long-term fix for Son’s replacement that the club has been searching for.
