Milan’s qualification for next season’s Champions League would be crucial to retaining their most important players, as clubs like Chelsea are reportedly ready to lure some of them away if they are denied the prospect of playing European football.
The Rossoneri recently suffered their third consecutive Serie A defeat, and with the team now sitting ninth in the standings—11 points adrift of the last available Champions League spot—it seems unlikely that they will be able to leapfrog the five teams currently ahead of them in the remaining 11 fixtures.
However, Calciomercato.com reports that missing out on Europe’s top competition could significantly impact Milan’s transfer strategy, potentially forcing the club to consider selling their top players to offset financial losses.
Among them there’s Tijjani Reijnders, one of the few stand-out players in a troubled season, with his strong displays leading the Rossoneri to extend his contract until 2030.
However, Chelsea have already inquired about the Dutch star and would be ready to intensify their pursuit of the midfielder if Milan fail to qualify for the Champions League—or possibly even the Europa League—leaving them in a more vulnerable position.
The Premier League giants have also expressed interest in Rafael Leão, who is widely considered one of the players most likely to leave San Siro at the end of the season, according to recent reports.
Chelsea are confident they can capitalize on their strong relationship with Milan—evident from recent transfers—to negotiate a deal for some of the club’s top talents.
