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Transfer Rumours: Man Utd get huge Rafael Leao discount with Milan open to Marcus Rashford swap deal

1 May 2026 07:02 BST | 6 min read

Rafael Leao, Transfer Rumoursx

FootballTransfers runs through the biggest rumours from 1 May, including the latest updates on Rafael Leao, Serge Gnabry and Nicolas Jackson

Rafael Leao emerges as cheap Rogers alternative

Manchester United’s hunt for a winger has seen them put Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers at the top of their shortlist, but with many leading clubs hunting the England international, there is an acceptance that he may be a player that they are forced to miss out on.

In particular, the financial aspect of the deal promises to be complicated for the Red Devils, leading Gazzetta dello Sport to report that Rafael Leao is seen as a cheaper alternative for the Birmingham-based star.

The Portugal international’s relationship with Milan is currently complicated, which has led the Rossoneri to slash his asking price to just €50 million, which is likely to be around half of what Villa want for Rogers.

In addition, Joshua Zirkzee could be a makeweight in any deal, potentially reducing the transfer fee even further, while Marcus Rashford or Manuel Ugarte would also be considered.

Arsenal add Gnabry to shortlist

Mikel Arteta reportedly sees Serge Gnabry as ‘the one who got away’, having spent a portion of his youth with Arsenal’s academy, and the club still maintain an interest in the Bayern Munich forward.

Serge Gnabry

Gnabry is currently injured but remains ‘high on Arsenal’s shortlist’ according to SportsBoom" href="https://www.sportsboom.co.uk/football/transfer-news/exclusive-is-gnabry-the-key-to-anthony-gordons-arrival-bayern-munich" target="_blank">SportsBoom, although there will be ‘no rushed move’ while the 30-year-old recovers.

Arsenal will not ‘risk an astronomical bid’ despite liking the player and will adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach with the German international due to his injury.

Instead, the Gunners will monitor Gnabry’s rehabilitation and analyse his response to returning to play before making a definitive final move.

Chelsea set Jackson asking price

Chelsea believe Nicolas Jackson is worth €70 million as they prepare for the Senegal international to return to the club following his loan spell at Bayern Munich." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/04/chelsea-transfer-news-nicolas-jackson-asking-price-70m-summer-2026" target="_blank">Chelsea believe Nicolas Jackson is worth €70 million as they prepare for the Senegal international to return to the club following his loan spell at Bayern Munich.

Nicolas Jackson

Bayern had agreed a deal with Chelsea last summer to have the option to sign Jackson permanently for €65m after his loan spell but the German giants confirmed last week that they would not be exercising the clause.

Both Juventus and Newcastle have been linked with a summer swoop for the 24-year-old in recent days and The Athletic now report that Chelsea will ask for €70m (£60m) to sell Jackson this summer.

They reportedly believe that his value hasn’t diminished during his spell at Bayern, despite the fact he has only racked up 1,152 minutes of action this term, although the west London giants will wait until they appoint a new permanent manager before making a final decision on Jackson’s future.

No bidding war for Anderson

Man Utd will not allow themselves to be drawn into a bidding war for Elliot Anderson, despite the Nottingham Forest star being touted as their dream central midfield signing, ESPN reports.

Elliot Anderson

It is claimed that Forest have set an astronomical asking price of £120m - close to €140m - for the England international midfielder, who is also wanted by Manchester City.

The Red Devils believe that Anderson’s asking price is “vastly inflated” and have instead set a top-end purchase price of £90m (€105m) for any signing in this area.

United are aiming to make this figure from players leaving the club.

Bayern Munich consider Havertz transfer

Bayern Munich could make an approach for Kai Havertz this summer as a replacement for Nicolas Jackson, who is set to head back to Chelsea after his loan spell.

Kai Havertz

Havertz has been a long-time target of Bayern since his days at Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal reporter James Benge believes the German international’s versatility makes the deal ‘one to monitor’ for the summer.

“Yeah, my understanding on Havertz and Bayern is that there is interest there. Nothing more than that that I’ve heard at the moment, but that is one to monitor in the summer,” Benge said on the Inside Arsenal podcast." href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/extra-time-with-james-benge-artetas-saka-decision/id1809140671?i=1000763824777" target="_blank">Inside Arsenal podcast.

“Because of course, Nicolas Jackson is going, so he might figure as a depth piece at Bayern, like someone that can cover a bit for Musiala and a bit for Kane.”

More rumours

Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle have held ‘exploratory talks’ with Dortmund over goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. (Fussballdaten) " href="https://www.fussballdaten.de/news/exklusiv-zieht-niko-kovacs-leader-weiter-italien-england-warten/" target="_blank">(Fussballdaten)

Interest has emerged from Manchester United over left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf after his impressive development at West Ham this season. (Guardian) " href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/30/manchester-united-west-ham-el-hadji-malick-diouf-target-kobbie-mainoo-new-contract" target="_blank">(Guardian)

Barcelona have made contact Cristian Romero's representatives to register their interest in a move for the Tottenham defender this summer. (SPORT) " href="https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/plan-b-bastoni-deco-idea-129631542" target="_blank">(SPORT)

Coventry City are set to beat Newcastle to the permanent signing of Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth after sealing their promotion back to the Premier League. (The Standard) " href="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/coventry-city-transfer-news-carl-rushworth-b1280430.html" target="_blank">(The Standard)

Juventus have opened talks to sign John Stones on a free transfer after the Manchester City defender announced he would leave the club when his contract expires this summer. (Tuttosport) " href="https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2026/04/29-148288030/stones_soluzione_juve_comolli_in_agguato_la_proposta_gi_arrivata" target="_blank">(Tuttosport)