Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot has reportedly come to a big decision on his future amid Barcelona and four other major European clubs hoping to sign him.
Dalot has gone from strength to strength under Erik ten Hag this season. He is firmly ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the pecking order and is the only outfield Manchester United player to have started in all of their 13 Premier League games so far.
Ten Hag prefers Dalot to Wan-Bissaka due to his added threat when attacking. But the Portuguese is also reliable defensively and has helped Manchester United to keep three clean sheets in the league during their last six outings.
Ten Hag would clearly like to work with Dalot for the next few years. However, his future is far from certain right now.
Dalot’s Man Utd contract expires at the end of the campaign. This means he can talk to interested European clubs from January 1 under the Bosman ruling, and potentially sort out a pre-contract agreement.
If Man Utd fail to organise a new deal for the full-back then they may have to sell him in January to prevent a free-transfer exit in the summer.
According to a recent report from ESPN, Man Utd have been planning to trigger the one-year extension in Dalot’s contract. This would keep him at Old Trafford for an extra season and would prevent a Barcelona move, for a year at least.
But the Manchester Evening News provide a contrasting update, and it seems to be good news for Man Utd fans.
Diogo Dalot decides where he wants to play
They claim Dalot wants to remain with the Red Devils for the long run and is willing to organise a new long-term contract.
The 23-year-old has told senior club officials he hopes to stay in Manchester and that they can now initiate renewal talks.
According to the MEN, these discussions have yet to begin. But Man Utd better get cracking, as Barca are no longer the only side taking a look at Dalot.
The report claims Juventus, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Roma would all like to sign him.
These are some big European teams with serious pulling power. Atleti won La Liga in 2020-21, while Milan are the reigning Serie A champions.
On January 1, these potential suitors will be able to contact Dalot and his agent to discuss a potential move away from England.
Due to this, Man Utd need to work hard and start to sort out the defender’s new long-term contract. They should also include a pay rise to reward Dalot for his fine displays under Ten Hag.
The six-time Portugal international played every minute as Man Utd drew 0-0 with Newcastle on Sunday. He managed to keep Jacob Murphy and then Ryan Fraser quiet on Newcastle’s left side of attack. It did not go quite so well for Cristiano Ronaldo, though, as he was named in this Premier League’s Worst XI of the weekend.
Dalot will be expecting to keep his place in the starting eleven during Man Utd’s next game. They come up against Tottenham at home on Wednesday evening. The only reason he may be on the bench is if Ten Hag opts to give him a rest.
