Manchester United have opened talks with AC Milan for the permanent transfer of Diogo Dalot, with the Serie A informally offering around £12million for the Portuguese defender.
The 22-year-old is on a season-loan loan spell at the San Siro and the full-back has made more appearances [24] in all competitions for the Italians this season than he’s managed in any campaign for the Red Devils.
Dalot joined United in a £18m deal from Porto in 2017 but he’s struggled for form and fitness during his time at Old Trafford, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quickly identified Aaron Wan-Bissaka as a priority signing following his appointment.
The Portuguese came up against his parent club with Milan in the Europa League earlier this month and Solskjaer took the opportunity to praise the defender, claiming he had a future at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘The plan was always for Diogo this season, or the main thing for Diogo, was to be fit,’ said Solskjaer.
‘He never managed to be fit for a long spell when he was here [and was] unfortunate with injuries. Now he’s kept fit all season; he’s been available for them. He’s playing at a big club, big expectations, [with the] great history of the club, so it’s been a good year for him.
‘So, of course, I’ve been very pleased with his development this season, and he’s our player and we’re looking forward to having him back.’
But Solskjaer has made a habit of making conflicting statements about players that he’s later offloaded since taking over the reins at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian said Alexis Sanchez would ‘prove you all wrong’ to journalists in January 2020. The Chilean was on loan at Inter Milan at the time and Solskjaer said he would return a new player in the summer. He failed to make another appearance for the club.
Similarly, Solskjaer talked up the chances of Chris Smalling returning to Old Trafford last summer, before agreeing to sell the England defender to Roma for a fee of around £14m.
United are in need of a more attack-minded right-back than Wan-Bissaka but Solskjaer is wary of blocking Ethan Laird’s pathway into the first team and feels he can get good money for Dalot.
Stefano Pioli has built a young squad around astute, hungry signings and Dalot is open to staying in Italy, even if he feels that he has unfinished business at Old Trafford.
United are similarly open-minded and will refuse to sell Dalot for any fee they deem risible, as the club feel another season-long loan spell could boost the full-back’s value.
Milan’s offer of around £12m is considerably lower than United’s valuation of Dalot, with the club expecting to at least recoup the £18m they spent on the defender.
Should United fail to obtain their valuation for Dalot, the defender will be recalled to Old Trafford this summer to lay his claim for a spot in the squad before a decision is made whether to send him out on loan again.
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