Manchester United have made informal enquiries about signing AC Milan winger Rafael Leao this summer, according to reports in Italy. The Portuguese international, long admired by the Old Trafford hierarchy, is widely expected to leave the Serie A club in the coming window, with Milan setting an asking price in the region of €50 million (£43.3m).
Italian outlet Calciomercato reports that United's interest has progressed from scouting missions earlier in the season to preliminary contact over a potential deal. The report suggests the Premier League club are so keen they could include players in a swap arrangement to facilitate the transfer. La Gazzetta dello Sport names striker Joshua Zirkzee, midfielder Manuel Ugarte, and winger Marcus Rashford as three players who could be offered to the Italian side.
Leao, 26, has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 28 appearances across all competitions for Milan this season. His blend of pace, dribbling, and goal threat from the left wing has made him one of the most coveted attackers in European football since his move from Lille in 2019. His potential availability has alerted several top clubs, with Barcelona also said to have held preliminary discussions with his agent, Jorge Mendes.
The context of United's interest is clear as the club's new minority owners, INEOS, look to reshape the squad ahead of next season. The left-wing position has been a recurring topic of discussion, with Rashford's future uncertain following his loan spell at Barcelona. The Spanish club are reportedly reluctant to trigger a €30 million option to buy the England international, potentially paving the way for his return to Manchester, albeit as a potential makeweight in a larger deal.
For AC Milan, a significant fee for Leao would provide crucial funds for a squad rebuild, while the potential inclusion of a player like Zirkzee addresses a historical interest in the Dutch forward. The inclusion of Ugarte, a player United are reportedly open to moving on, would also fit Milan's profile for a tenacious central midfielder. The complex nature of any proposed swap, however, indicates negotiations would be lengthy and complicated.
While Barcelona president Joan Laporta is cited as a potential rival suitor should they pass on Rashford, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests a move to Manchester is currently the more likely outcome for Leao. A transfer of this magnitude would represent a major statement of intent from United as they aim to bridge the gap to the Premier League's summit, acquiring a proven, elite-level attacker entering his prime years.
