By Dom Toner

'A real firework': Joe Cole says 23-year-old Chelsea want to sign is the most exciting talent in his country

Joe Cole thinks AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is “the most exciting young talent” in Portugal right now amid reported interest from Chelsea.

Leao, 23, has been a talisman at club level this campaign with Italian giants Milan. It’s why he’s part of the Portugal squad right now at the World Cup.

The left-winger has 16 direct goal contributions in 20 Milan appearances so far this season, which includes a goal and four assists in the Champions League group stages.

His World Cup campaign has started with two displays from the bench. He’s definitely adding real dynamism and pace to the Portugal XI when he’s on the pitch.

Exciting Rafael Leao

Pundit and former Chelsea player Cole has made a big claim about Leao being the most talented Portuguese youngster in the game.

“He is a real firework. He can come on, he can dribble, he scores goals, he is the most exciting young talent in Portuguese football,” Cole told ITV 1 (8:03pm, November 28).

In fairness, there’s not many emerging players in the Portugal squad that can excite like Leao does on the pitch.

If his form continues, you could easily see him being part of the new guard to emerge as key players for the Portuguese national side.

According to journalist Carlo Garganese, Chelsea are in competition with Real Madrid to try sign Leao.

The AC Milan winger looks a massive attacking danger regardless of the stage he’s competing on, so it would be great for Premier League audiences to watch him grace the English division.

His skill and flair could make him an immediate favourite at Chelsea if he joins. It’s his ability to score and assist goals from wide areas that should most intrigue the Blues fanbase, though.

It’s obvious Graham Potter needs his Chelsea side to become more potent at the top end of the pitch, something former Blues managers have equally been trying to do.

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Dom Toner

Dom is a Chelsea supporter who has worked in online publishing for more than six years. Graduated from Staffordshire University in 2016, he now writes exclusively for The Chelsea Chronicle covering news, analysis and match coverage. He enjoys the dream position of writing about his boyhood club, which seems to be involved in more drama every single day than an episode of The Bill. Aside from his love for Chelsea, he supports and follows the England cricket team. He also fancies himself as the Sunday League version of Michael Essien.