26-yo attacking powerhouse wanted by United makes major call on potential summer transfer – report

Manchester United’s pursuit of Rafael Leao may have taken a complicated turn. The Red Devils are in the market for a new left-forward this summer, even though the midfield is expected to be at the forefront of their reinforcement activity. Casemiro’s decision to leave once his contract runs out at the end of this season has only accelerated those plans. However, the Premier League giants are also seeking a new attacker, as they are yet to replace Marcus Rashford. The Englishman moved to Barcelona on a season-long loan at the beginning of this season and has been on fire in Spain so far. However, he is unlikely to be reintegrated into United’s squad and all signs point to a permanent departure this summer. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person named Leao as a possible candidate to upgrade United’s attack this summer. A fresh update on the player’s future has now emerged. Leao happy at San Siro According to journalist Daniele Longo via Caught Offside, Leao is happy at AC Milan and not looking to leave at the moment. The Portuguese forward is under contract until 2028, and the previous report suggested that the Rossoneri could let him leave for €75-80 million. However, it now appears that the Serie A giants are keen to hold on to Leao, and are already planning to tie him down to an extension. AC Milan want to build their project around the 26 year old and only an exorbitant offer will convince them to part ways with their prized asset. Leao has operated mostly as a centre-forward this season, registering nine goals and two assists in 21 appearances in all competitions. Rafael Leao Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Serie A1915823-1,264′ Italy Cup221—107′ Total2117923-1,371′ Source: Transfermarkt. Leao’s attacking traits and his ability to operate in several roles in attack make him an enticing option for the Red Devils. However, it now appears that prising him away from the San Siro is going to be tough. How has United’s attack performed this season? United invested heavily in the frontline before the start of the season, signing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Their efforts have been rewarded so far, with only Manchester City (56), Arsenal (56) and Chelsea (48) scoring more Premier League goals than the Red Devils (47), who also have a game in hand. Mbeumo has been the pick of the lot, finding the back of the net 10 times and setting up two more from 22 outings. Cunha and Sesko have also been impressive of late, but that has not stopped the English giants from pursuing upgrades. Bryan Mbeumo Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoals AssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2121923-1,813′ EFL Cup101—45′ Total22211023-1,858′ Source: Transfermarkt. Following the departures of Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, United lack a speedy winger who can add another dimension to their attack. Leao fits the bill, but it now looks increasingly likely that the Portuguese will continue his stay in Italy. Final Thoughts Leao has the ability to make a difference at the Theatre of Dreams, but if he is settled at AC Milan, there is no point in pursuing a deal. Instead, United could turn to Premier League-proven targets such as Morgan Rogers. Featured images Marco Luzzani via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.