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Football

18th Nov 2021

Jose Mourinho reportedly keen to sign Diogo Dalot from Man United in January

Robert Redmond

mourinho dalot

Mourinho rates the player highly.

AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign Diogo Dalot from Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to multiple reports.

Dalot has struggled to earn playing time at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and is understood to be open to a move away if the situation does not change.

Mourinho rates the Portuguese full-back highly and signed him for Man United in 2018.

Mourinho is reportedly keen to sign Dalot from Man United.

According to reports, Roma would prefer to sign the Portuguese on a loan deal, rather than a permanent transfer.

Mourinho seemingly wants Dalot at the Stadio Olimpico as the club are short of full-back options.

Italy international Leonardo Spinazzola hasn’t played since last summer when he picked up a serious injury against Belgium at Euro 2020. The Roma full-back is still a few months away from returning to fitness.

Mourinho signed Dalot for Man United from Porto for £19m and dubbed him “the best young full-back in Europe.”

The Red Devils, however, sacked Mourinho in December 2018, and his successor, Solskjaer, does not appear to be as keen on the player.

Dalot, 22, spent last season on loan with AC Milan and has only made six appearances since returning to Old Trafford.

Despite Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s unconvincing performances at right-back, and United’s recent switch to a wing-back system, the Portugal international has yet to receive an extended run in the first-team.

Solskjaer has opted for Wan-Bissaka over Dalot.

Solskjaer evidently views the right-back position as an issue for Man United – one of several problems facing the Norwegian as the team enters a busy period.

Last summer, the Red Devils were linked with a move for Kieran Trippier but were put off by Atletico Madrid’s asking price (£40m).

Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, has failed to convince since joining the club from Crystal Palace in 2019 for £50m.

The 23-year-old is an excellent tackler but is limited going forward and in possession of the ball. He has become a target for some opposition teams and has floundered as United switched formation to 3-4-1-2 from a back four.

Wan-Bisska, like the United team as a whole, currently looks short of confidence and in need of some detailed coaching. Yet, Solskjaer is likely to persist with him over Dalot.

The Norwegian has stuck with a core group of players and has, so far, tended to ignore the merits of certain squad members – such as Jesse Lingard, Donny van de Beek and Dalot – no matter how poorly United’s regulars have played.

According to The Times, Dalot wants to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place. But, if the situation does not change, he would be open to a move.