Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United have begun internal discussions on their transfer plans at right-back.
Right-back has been a problem position for United since Antonio Valencia’s drop off in 2018 before Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrived for an eye-watering £45m the following year as his replacement but has been far from the level required.
This allowed Diogo Dalot to eventually earn a consistent run of games at Old Trafford and make the spot his own this season under Erik ten Hag where he’s featured 20 times.
But previous reports have linked Dalot with a move away from Manchester with his current deal expiring in the summer, the Englishman has also been rumoured to be on his way back to former club Crystal Palace on loan after playing only four minutes of Premier League football this season.
If either deal were to happen then the Red Devils would find themselves light at right-back with Romano revealing discussions have taken place over the position.
“Man United are discussing internally also on the new right-back because if Wan-Bissaka will leave in January, Man United will go also for a new right-back.
“Let’s see if they try to recall [Ethan] Laird at right-back or if they will go for a different one, Frimpong remains a player scouted as Denzel Dumfries.”
TIF Thoughts on Romano’s comments…
A new signing at right-back for United should be a priority for ten Hag, Wan-Bissaka has shown he isn’t at the level that the Dutchman wants from his full-backs that are a pivotal part of his setup.
The 25-year-old wasn’t even in the squad for the one game that Dalot missed which saw Tyrell Malacia deployed in an unfamiliar right-back role in the 2-1 win at Fulham.
Although the Portuguese defender is set to enter the final six months of his current deal, United do have the option to extend by one year which was reported by The Sun last month, but it’s yet to be triggered.
It would only prove a minimal rest-bite with his current £32k-per-week deal surely leaving the 23-year-old unhappy as one of the lowest earners at the club, forcing a long-term solution in January as a priority.