Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly working behind the scenes to understand the availability of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao ahead of what could be one of the summer window’s defining transfers. Both Premier League clubs have made enquiries with the Italian side, with transfer authority Fabrizio Romano confirming that at least two English clubs have been in contact to assess the situation.
The calls, according to Romano, are focused on understanding Milan’s demands rather than tabling any formal offer at this stage.
AC Milan are understood to be open to a sale if the price is right, with the Portuguese international carrying two years left on his deal at San Siro. A potential departure this summer would represent Milan’s final real opportunity to command serious money for a player whose value will begin to decline the closer he gets to contract expiry. The widely quoted fee sits around £60 million, a figure multiple observers have described as relatively modest given Leao’s pedigree.
The 26-year-old has contributed nine goals and three assists in 25 Serie A appearances this season, though his consistency has long been a talking point among Italian football watchers. He broke a 17-month home goal drought at the San Siro earlier in the campaign, a statistic that raised eyebrows for a player widely considered one of Europe’s most naturally gifted attackers. That inconsistency, ironically, could be what keeps his asking price below the £80-100 million range that might otherwise be expected.
For Liverpool, the strategic rationale is straightforward: Mohamed Salah will leave Anfield at the end of this season, creating a vacancy on the right that could realistically be filled from the left side too, given Leao’s flexibility across the front three. The Reds need someone capable of providing that unpredictability and creative spark Salah had made his calling card over eight seasons at the club. Leao’s profile fits neatly into what Arne Slot’s system demands from wide attackers.
Manchester United’s interest is framed differently. The club is actively searching for a left winger with Yan Diomande widely touted as their primary target, though Diomande would cost significantly more with RB Leipzig believed to want north of £80 million. Leao at £60 million would represent a more financially efficient route to solving the same positional problem, although questions around his off-field situation add a layer of complication. The Milan forward has been named in connection with an ongoing investigation by Italian prosecutors, though he categorically denied involvement on social media, stating: “I am completely ‘foreign’ to the facts under investigation. I am not involved and have not committed any criminal offense.”
Champions League qualification is expected to shape the final outcome. Both United and Liverpool are pressing hard to secure top-five finishes, and a deal for a player of Leao’s calibre would almost certainly require guaranteeing European football at the highest level. A World Cup summer in North America adds another complicating factor, with both clubs aware that a strong tournament showing could push his price considerably higher. The race, at this point, is as much about timing as it is about money.
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