Manchester United Targets Francisco Conceicao for Rebuild

Michael Carrick has set his sights on Francisco Conceicao as the next piece in Manchester United’s rebuild – but Juventus have made it clear that prising the winger out of Turin will come at a premium.

United’s summer has already been busy. Five signings are through the door: goalkeeper Karl Darlow, youngster Kit Margetson, midfielder Andrey Santos, defender Tynan Thompson and Youri Tielemans, who adds proven Premier League craft in the middle of the pitch.

That is only phase one.

INEOS want a third midfield recruit and a striker to support Benjamin Sesko, the centrepiece of United’s new-look attack. Alongside that, Carrick has turned his attention to the flanks, where he believes Conceicao can give his side a different edge as they return to the Champions League next season.

Carrick’s ideal winger

Conceicao has grown into one of Serie A’s most dangerous wide players. Operating mainly from the right, the 23-year-old Portugal international offers what United have lacked in recent years: directness, one-on-one threat and the ability to switch sides without losing impact.

For Juventus in the 2025/26 campaign, he produced four goals and five assists across 42 appearances in all competitions. The numbers are solid rather than spectacular, but they only tell part of the story. His game is built on stretching defences, committing full-backs and opening lanes for others.

According to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, United view Conceicao as “the perfect fit” for their project, with Carrick personally driving the interest. He is said to particularly value the winger’s capacity to beat players, carve out chances and operate on either flank – traits that would inject badly needed unpredictability into United’s attack.

In a Premier League that increasingly rewards individual brilliance in tight spaces, that profile has obvious appeal.

Juventus draw a hard line

There is, however, a major obstacle. Conceicao is tied to Juventus until 2030, and the Bianconeri are in no mood to cash in cheaply.

TuttoJuve report that Juventus want to keep him and have placed a firm valuation of around €50 million (£43m, $57.4m) on the winger. Any club – United included – would need to table a “very significant offer” to even start a conversation.

The Italian side see that figure as delivering a substantial capital gain on the investment they made just a year ago and, more importantly, as a statement of how highly they rate the player. Internally, he is viewed as an important part of Luciano Spalletti’s plans rather than a name on the outgoing list.

The stance is blunt: Conceicao is not on the market. Only an offer so big it becomes impossible to ignore would force Juventus to reconsider.

United’s next move

That leaves United with a familiar question in this new INEOS era: how far are they willing to go for a manager’s preferred target?

Carrick’s admiration is clear. The need for a winger who can change the tempo of a game is obvious. Juventus, though, are holding a long contract, a rising asset and a price that signals they expect him to be central to their future.

If United decide Conceicao is the man to light up the right flank at Old Trafford, they may have to prove it in the most convincing way possible – by testing just how “unmarketable” that Juventus valuation really is.