Manchester United and Liverpool make initial contact for Rafael Leao with AC Milan willing to listen at around 60 million pounds
Rafael Leao is on the move again, and this time both halves of England's biggest rivalry are circling. Manchester United and Liverpool have made initial enquiries with AC Milan over the Portugal winger, with the Italian club open to a sale this summer in the region of 60 million pounds. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed contact from at least two Premier League clubs, although there are no formal proposals on the table yet.
The figure is the eye-catcher. Leao's contract, signed in 2023 and running to June 2028, contains a release clause of 175 million euros. The clause is only active in a 10-day window between July 5 and July 15 each year, so anyone moving before then has to negotiate directly with Milan. And Milan, looking to balance the books and reset their squad, look ready to negotiate.
Why Liverpool are looking
The Liverpool angle is the easier one to read. Mohamed Salah's exit at the end of the season was confirmed in March, with the 33-year-old leaving Anfield as a free agent after nine years and 255 goals in 435 appearances. Arne Slot has spent the spring being linked with everyone from Michael Olise to Yan Diomande to Maghnes Akliouche as the search for a Salah replacement runs through every reporter's notebook.
Leao would be a different type of profile. Left-footed, more of a left winger than a right one, and at 26 he is in the bracket where the fee would still feel like a long-term investment rather than a stopgap. He has nine goals and three assists in Serie A this season, with a contract that runs another two years.
United's case is harder to make
The United interest is more curious. The Red Devils spent heavily on attackers last summer, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and there is the not-small matter of who is actually going to be the United manager next season. Ruben Amorim was sacked in January and Michael Carrick is in interim charge until the end of the campaign. Any move for Leao would have to be tied to whoever is appointed permanently, and what kind of front line they want.
It is also worth being honest about the Milan timing. With the 2026 World Cup in North America starting in June, a strong tournament for Portugal and Leao could push his market value higher. Both Premier League clubs would prefer to move before the tournament rather than after it. Whether Milan keep him for another year or cash in this summer will probably come down to which English club blinks first.
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