Diogo Dalot of Manchester United in action during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Norwich City and Manchester United at Carrow Road on June 27, 2020 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
According to Football Insider (h/t Daily Express), Manchester United are ready to offload out of favour right-back Diogo Dalot this summer.
The Portuguese right-back, who was signed by former United boss Jose Mourinho has now fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, following the arrival of summer-signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Dalot has made a total of just 11 appearances this season under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, indicating that he is clearly not one of his favourites at the moment. He made just one Premier League start under Solskjaer in 2019/20 and has featured just once since the campaign restarted post-lockdown.
Meanwhile, United have a busy transfer window ahead of them after finishing third and securing Champions League spot under Solskjaer’s guidance. They are intent on bringing Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford this summer. However, the Englishman carries a hefty price tag over his head.
That said, United can garner funds to bring Sancho by offloading the out-of-favour Dalot. The Portuguese full-back’s numbers also prove that he has been far from impressive since arriving in England.
Since arriving from FC Porto two years ago, the young full-back has made just 34 appearances for United across all competitions. He has managed a mere one goal and three assists in the process. This forced United to sign Wan-Bissaka last summer.
Wan-Bissaka, on the other hand, has established himself as the side’s first-choice right back with a string of successful displays this season. The youngster has become one of the first few names on the team sheet, having featured in 35 of their overall 38 league matches this term.
He has also impressed with four assists in the process, signifying his worth within the squad. Apart from Wan0Bissaka and Dalot, United also have academy graduate Timothy Fosu-Mensah in their ranks, meaning Dalot’s departure will not hurt them next season.
With the side clearly having a back-up and an in-form Wan-Bissaka in their squad, United’s decision to put Dalot on sale for a sum of around £20m is a step in the right direction.
Manchester United have enough depth in the right-back slot and Dalot’s exit will not be a major concern for them next season. By letting him go, United can save a lot of time and money and use it to fund priority target Sancho’s move. Hence, the Red Devils have made the right decision in choosing to let go of their Portuguese right-back.
