According to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, Diogo Dalot will reportedly be staying at Manchester United this summer. The Manchester United right-back spent the entirety of last season at AC Milan on loan. However, the Portuguese defender is expected to stay in Manchester and provide competition to Aaron Wan Bissaka.
This could potentially end Manchester United’s pursuit of Kieran Trippier. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen on signing the English right-back this season, but Manchester United have been put off by Atletico Madrid‘s asking price for the player.
Diogo Dalot Set to Stay Ending Trippier Pursuit
Signing Kieran Trippier Could Affect Aaron Wan Bissaka’s Development
Last summer, Manchester United signed Alex Telles from Porto. The Brazilian left-back was brought in to provide some healthy competition to Luke Shaw. Telles, who is a bit older and a bit more experienced than Shaw, was expected to start over the English left-back at the beginning of the season. However, as the season progressed, Luke Shaw made the role his own and produced arguably his best season as a Manchester United player. Many believe that the signing of Alex Telles pushed Luke Shaw enough to bring the best out of him.
It is also believed that Solskjaer wanted to sign Kieran Trippier and recreate the same formula to bring the best out of Aaron Wan Bissaka. However, what worked for the left-sided full-backs might not work on the right-hand side of the pitch.
Compared to Alex Telles, Kieran Trippier is more experienced both as an international and at the club level. The gap in age and experience of Kieran Trippier and Aaron Wan Bisakka could see Trippier being trusted moreover Aaron Wan Bisakka. Kieran Trippier will turn 30 in September. The last outfield player Manchester United signed over the age of 30 was Edinson Cavani, who signed with the club on deadline day last summer. Despite picking up a few injuries, being banned for a few games and having to quarantine for a couple of weeks after signing, Cavani ended up making more appearances than United’s top goalscorer in 2019/20, Anthony Martial.
Kieran Trippier with similar experience and pedigree to that of Edison Cavani could easily dethrone Aaron Wan Bisakka as the starting right-back, which could negatively impact the growth and development of Wan Bisakka.
United Set to Turn Attentions to Midfield?
While there’s still a possibility that Diogo Dalot and Kieran Trippier could both move towards the end of the transfer window, it is extremely likely at the moment that the players will stay put at their respective clubs. With Manchester United now open to keeping Dalot, according to Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst, the club’s preference is now to recruit a midfielder over a right-back.
This summer, Manchester United desperately need to sign a midfielder to turn the club from a title-challenging side to potentially a title-winning one. The club shifting their focus from the right-back position to the midfield is a step in the right direction and United fans would hope that keeping Dalot would ensure that a midfielder signs with the club before the deadline day of the summer transfer window.
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