Manchester United are reportedly set to sign Diogo Dalot, having activated the €20 million release clause in the youngster’s FC Porto contract.
Various media outlets, including reputed papers like The Telegraph and Sky Sports, are claiming that Manchester United have met the release clause of FC Porto youngster Diogo Dalot. The reports also conclude that the club is close to announcing the wide defender as their first signing of the summer transfer window, with the deal likely to be confirmed within the week.
Diogo Dalot has only made a handful of first-team appearances thus far, being called up to the senior FC Porto squad only due to the injury to Alex Telles. Deployed in an unfamiliar role as the left-back – the player is a natural at right-back – Dalot seemed unfazed by the step up and put in credible shifts.
Dalot impressed the most during FC Porto’s O Classico win over Sporting CP and during their home leg against Liverpool in the Champions League Knockout Stages, a match that ended 0-0. Interest in Dalot has been present for a while now, with FC Porto rejecting multiple bids below the player’s €20 million release clause.
Seems like a poor guy can’t write scout reports for a few hours without his mentions and DMs being exploded into an insane mess of Diogo Dalot questions.
Calma, calma, a lowdown on the Man United linked Porto youngster is coming up… pic.twitter.com/GckIE8DfUM
— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) May 29, 2018
According to Freelance writer Jan Hagen, Valencia had even activated the buyout clause, with Dalot himself rejecting the chance to move to Spain. But, Manchester United’s case might be different.
The need for reinforcements as far as the wide defence is concerned is evident at Old Trafford. While Antonio Valencia is a quality but ageing presence on the right, Matteo Darmian’s likely departure means that Jose Mourinho will not have any options beyond the Ecuadorian, except the returning Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who can be fielded on the right but generally prefers playing through the centre in a holding midfield role.
The idea behind Dalot’s transfer might be the fact that he would not warrant a regular place in the starting eleven from the get-go while also learning the tricks and trades as he is groomed to take over Valencia as the first-choice on the right in the coming season(s).
FC Porto though, have been doing all they can to retain Dalot, despite their urgent need for revenue in order to comply with FFP regulations. The Portuguese giants have attempted to extend Dalot’s deal and increase the release clause, but Dalot’s potential inadvertence to signing an extension seems to have played into Manchester United’s plans.
The Telegraph claim that personal terms are also agreed between the player and the club, with the Portuguese likely to be confirmed as a Manchester United player within the week.
While many would not have heard of Diogo Dalot, Manchester United fans would hope Jose Mourinho and his backroom staff have done their scouting well before moving for the 19-year-old.
