Manchester United eye Rafael Leão as Michael Carrick plots summer rebuild
Manchester United have held talks with AC Milan about a potential move for Rafael Leão this summer. The 26-year-old Portuguese winger has become a main target for Michael Carrick as he looks to overhaul his squad. AC Milan seem open to offers and might consider selling for around £60 million, although United are up against heavy interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Since the Red Devils sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea last summer, the left wing is looking thin and needs a fix before the next transfer window opens.
The logic behind United’s interest in Leão
There is a much better chance that Leão will leave the San Siro, which opens up a path for negotiations that usually wouldn’t exist. During the 2025/26 Serie A season, Leão has scored 9 goals and recorded 3 assists in 1,640 minutes, maintaining a solid 7.14 average rating, proving he can still produce even on a struggling team. While United and Chelsea have had initial chats with his agent, it’s still unclear if either club will make a formal bid to Milan. Leão can play on either wing or as a striker, giving Carrick plenty of options in his 4-2-3-1 system, which makes him much more useful than a standard winger.
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Why do United need to act fast instead of waiting?
This is a moment for a reality check rather than getting swept up in the hype. Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League last season and have no European football this year, two facts that have definitely hurt the club’s pulling power. Even though United are asking about a £60 million price tag, Milan are holding out for at least £80–100 million, meaning United will need to sell more players to come up with the cash.
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The club already reshaped the attack last summer by bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko; adding Leão could easily crowd the front line while leaving deep-rooted issues in midfield and defence untouched. The club should only pull the trigger on this if the fee stays under £70 million and Leão understands that he is coming to play in Champions League nights at Old Trafford. Manchester United can’t afford to be sentimental right now; they just need to be smart.