Diogo Dalot scored the final goal in Manchester United’s 4-0 humbling of fellow Premier League side Everton at the weekend, but with rumours circling his future at the club, does the Portuguese right-back deserve a chance to show what he can do next season?
Dalot’s role at Manchester United is an interesting case. He was signed as part of the next step in Jose Mourinho’s rebuild in 2018, after many impressive performances for Porto, including locking down Liverpool winger Sadio Mane in a Champions League fixture between the two sides. However, he never cemented himself in the right-back position and upon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment, he was replaced by the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Now three years on, his future at the club is far from certain with MEN Sport reporting that AC Milan approached United about a move for the 22-year-old right-back earlier on in the window and with Manchester United weighing up the possibility of a move for Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier before the transfer window closes.
But does Dalot deserve a chance in the first team?
During the last two fixtures of the pre-season programme against Brentford and Everton, Dalot has looked like a completely different player. He didn’t make the biggest impact at AC Milan during his loan last season, but he did add energy and consistency to the right-hand side of their defence and did enough to warrant an enquiry into whether they could bring him back to the San Siro.
This energy was clear from the moment he stepped on the pitch against Everton, with several driving runs and clever flicks down the right-hand side, he was a constant nuisance for the opposition defenders. When they gave him space he made good use of it, delivering several good crosses which unfortunately were not taken advantage of.
In Dalot’s defence, his target was Mason Greenwood and not Edinson Cavani, despite all the goals the young forward has scored, he has only netted one header in his senior career.
Dalot did eventually make an impact on the final score with a looping header that went over Asmir Begovic in the dying moments of the game.
Solskjaer wants a right-back that offers him a different option than his current starter in the role Wan-Bissaka. The former Crystal Palace man's defensive ability is undoubtedly his greatest asset, being hailed by teammates and pundits alike, with Luke Shaw previously hailing his fellow full-back.
"He has been a solid eight-out-of-ten in every other game he’s played, never puts a foot wrong, puts his foot in the right position every time and, for me, he’s the best one-on-one defender in the world," he said in May last year.
"No one can get past him."
However, on multiple occasions, his ability going forward has been called into question.
This is where Trippier comes in.
Not only does Trippier bring the experience of playing in one of the best defensive teams in world football at Atletico Madrid, meaning United would not lose defensive stability with him in the side, his crossing ability and impact going forward would give United another edge in games where defending is not the priority.
However, I believe signing Trippier isn’t the right option. MEN Sport understands that United are being priced out of a move by Atletico Madrid and that could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.
Trippier is coming towards the twilight of his career and would want to be the first choice at United. This may cause problems with Wan-Bissaka’s development, whereas with Dalot I believe there would be a good rotation between the two young right-backs.
Furthermore, under Solskjaer’s tenure at Manchester United, the culture of the club has shifted back to one where players are given a chance to improve and show their worth in the team.
The best example of this has been Shaw himself. After a horrific broken leg that sidelined him for an extended period and some seasons under Mourinho where he was shunned and berated for his positioning and fitness, under Solskjaer he has become the top-level player that many tipped him to be when he broke onto the scene at Southampton.
The Shaw we see now is the culmination of a seven-year journey at Manchester United, so why not give one more year for Dalot to try and work towards achieving the same goal?
If he doesn’t, United have a backup option in Ethan Laird, who has just sealed a loan to Swansea this season but will hopefully be back next season with something to prove and wanting to make a move up into Solskjaer’s first-team plans.
With the limited funds available to Manchester United in this transfer window and with the club looking to prioritise a midfielder over a right-back, as previously reported by MEN Sport , keeping Dalot and using the spare money to sign a player in that area will push the team much closer to a title challenge next season.
Placing faith in Dalot may turn out to be another example of astute player management by Solskjaer.
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