Tottenham are not actively working on a move for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, despite background contact between club intermediaries and the player’s representatives prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speculation linking the 27-year-old with a move to North London intensified during the early stages of the current window.
Following high-profile arrivals at Hotspur Way—including a £100 million deal for Sandro Tonali and an £85 million outlay for Mateus Fernandes—reports suggested Tottenham were evaluating a marquee addition to bolster head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s attacking options ahead of his first full season in charge.
According to The Athletic, Tottenham did hold informal, exploratory discussions with Leao’s representatives in the weeks preceding Portugal’s World Cup campaign in North America, which ended in a last-16 exit at the hands of eventual winners Spain.
Leao himself publicly signalled an openness to testing himself in the Premier League, describing English top-flight football as an appealing destination for the next stage of his career.
However, those initial exploratory talks have not materialised into a concrete proposal or active negotiations.
Tottenham’s sporting department has since pivoted to alternative attacking targets that align more closely with De Zerbi’s tactical vision and financial framework.
North London decision-makers are now focusing on finalising a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho, while also monitoring options such as Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi.
Leao is currently a target for Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce and now appears unlikely to secure his long-awaited move to English football.