Why Manchester United must not offload Diogo Dalot
According to The Sun, Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for their young full-back Diogo Dalot.
The Portuguese right-back is now fighting for a place in the first-team line-up after the emergence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka as the side’s first-choice man. Touted as a future potential, 21-year-old Dalot was roped in by former Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2018 from Portuguese side Porto.
Despite his limited appearances for the Premier League side, Dalot has impressed when given the chance. However, Englishman Wan-Bissaka’s arrival has changed the scenes at Old Trafford.
Wan-Bissaka, who arrived last summer from rivals Crystal Palace has earned rave reviews after his rock-solid displays at the back for United. The right-back has been in such sensational form that he is second in the list of the highest number of tackles made by a Premier League player.
To date, he has managed 99 tackles and is only behind leader Ricardo Pereira of Leicester City, who has 119 to his name. With Wan-Bissaka nailing his spot at the right, chances have become increasingly limited for young Dalot.
Moreover, the Portuguese has been hampered by injuries this season, limiting his appearances to a mere 10 games this season. So far, he has played 33 times across all competitions for the Red Devils and has one goal and three assists to his name.
Diogo Dalot may face the axe this summer
However, Wan-Bissaka’s dominance in the full-back role has now pushed the Portuguese down the pecking order. Also, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer planning a squad overhaul ahead of next season, Dalot’s name has popped up among the list of stars who could face the axe this summer.
The report states that they will listen to offers for the Portuguese youngster. But they will offload him only if they receive a sizeable offer (h/t The Sun).
However, considering United’s lack of depth in that position, this does not seem like a wise option.
The Red Devils currently have just three right-backs in their squad, with academy graduate Timothy Fosu-Mensah being the third one. However, the 22-year-old has hardly featured in 2019/20, having been out with an injury for the majority of the campaign.
Despite being their youth player, Fosu-Mensah has failed to establish himself into the first-team squad. The Dutchman has spent most of his time on loan with sides such as Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Hence, it is clear United will lack depth in the right-back position if they opt to sell Dalot. Predominantly a right-back Dalot is also comfortable playing anywhere across the flanks as he has done on numerous occasions for United.
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His attacking instincts have seen him feature ten times in the right midfield for United while his versatility has seen him being deployed in the left-back position three times. Dalot’s numbers are a testament to the player’s flexibility to adapt any role given by the team. Considering all this, he is still a valuable asset to the Red Devils and can offer Solskjaer more options in the defence if required.
Verdict
Apart from Wan-Bissaka, Manchester United have just one established right-back in Dalot. And, selling him at this moment does not seem like a safe bet. Moreover, he is still young and has plenty of time to develop. Hence, rather than selling him, United must hold onto the right-back.
