Manchester United are closing in on their first transfer of the window, as Portuguese right-back Diogo Dalot is reportedly set to undergo a medical.
Manchester United are poised to complete their first signing of the summer, as Porto full-back Diogo Dalot is expected to complete a medical within the coming week, as per reports from the Daily Mail.
Manchester United are in negotiations with the Portuguese outfit over the possibility of reducing the transfer fee from the £17.4 million release clause stipulated in the player’s contract. Dalot, who is understood to be recovering from a meniscus injury, will undergo a medical as soon as the two teams are able to reach an agreement over the fee.
Dalot has been with the Porto academy since the year 2008 and managed to break into the senior team in October last year in a 6-0 win over Lusitano in the Portuguese Cup. The 19-year old featured in the club’s goalless draw against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League a few months ago in March as well.
By the end of the 2017-18 campaign, Dalot accumulated eight appearances for Sergio Conceicao’s side, contributing with 3 assists. He also turned out 20 times for the Porto B side scoring three and setting up two more and impressed in the UEFA Youth League as well.
Having represented the Portugal national team at all levels, the 19-year old was an integral part of the U-17 side that won the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. Dalot broke into the Seleccao’s U-21 outfit in November 2017 and has gone on to make four appearances for them so far.
The Porto academy graduate is a versatile operator, who can play as both right-back and left-back, despite being predominantly right-footed. Pacey, possessing endless reserves of energy, the 19-year old backs it up with good end product into the box from either flanks and has shown in his few appearances at the top level that he is defensively reliable as well.
The full-back slots have been something of a concern for Manchester United for the past year or so now. First choice right-back Antonio Valencia is now 33 and receiving constant treatment for a knee injury, while Italian full-back Matteo Darmian is on the verge of leaving the club, with a move to Serie A champions Juventus in the pipeline.
So, it was an area that needed strengthening before the 2018-19 season kicked off and Manchester United have acted fast in order to try and secure the signing of the 19-year-old Dalot.
Judging by his handful of appearances for the Porto senior team, the Portuguese under-21 international possesses great potential and if he goes on to fulfill that, Manchester United will be set to reap the rewards for years to come.
