IT’S set to be a busy summer at Manchester United.
With a considerable gap to close on Manchester City, Jose Mourinho is desperate to overhaul his squad and turn United into genuine title contenders next season.
With summer fast approaching, transfer speculation surrounding possible incomings at Old Trafford has been intense.
The club are expected to make around five major signings this window, with high-profile names such as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Fred and Toby Alderweireld all Manchester United transfer targets.
However, it looks as though United’s first signing of the summer is a lesser-known name.
Reports this week have claimed that the Red Devils are poised to complete the £17.5m signing of Porto right-back Diogo Dalot.
A young prospect who broke through into senior football just a matter of months ago, our friends at Football Whispers have run the rule over the United newboy.
This time last season, Dalot had barely made an impression on the Porto B side nevermind the senior set-up.
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The full-back, who only turned 19 in March, made his debut for the Portuguese club’s second string in January 2017 having been part of the underage setup since he was nine.
A guaranteed starter for Porto B at the start of the 2017/18 season, Dalot was suddenly thrust into first-team action for the first time in October for a cup clash.
His first taste of top-flight football in Portugal came in February, replacing the injured Alex Telles during Porto’s 5-0 win over Rio Ave.
While that was a relatively easy game to introduce him to the Primeira Liga, just a few weeks later Dalot was starting for Sergio Conceicao’s side at Anfield in the return leg of the Champions League last-16.
Having lost the first game 5-0, Porto’s hopes were slim and Dalot was given the unenviable task of keeping Sadio Mane quiet.
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He rose to the challenge admirably, refusing to be intimidated by the electric atmosphere inside Anfield.
Dalot was arguably Porto’s strongest performer on the night, keeping Mane in check while also making a few enterprising forays forward.
While the story in the English media was obviously Liverpool’s progression, the Portuguese press began to take notice of Dalot’s rapid development, having also impressed in the 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon –despite being played out of position at left-back.
Although clearly competent operating on the left, Dalot’s primary position is on the right side of defence.
Despite his eye-catching displays while deputising for Telles, the first-choice left-back’s return relegated Dalot to the bench before a meniscus injury brought his season to an end prematurely.
However, despite having a limited window with which to impress, Dalot’s stock rose considerably during his stint in the first team.
The youngster averaged 1.54 successful tackles and 1.98 aerial battles won per 90, conveying an assuredness with both his feet and his head.
Dalot’s international career for Portugal has followed an upward curve, too.
Having made his debut for the Under-15s in 2014, he featured heavily for the Under-17 and Under-19 sides and has appeared four times for the Under-21 setup since 2017.
He scored in the final as Portugal won the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and also featured in last summer’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
A typical modern full-back, Dalot loves to get forward but the defensive side of his game is sound, the latter being a critical aspect when signing for a team managed by Mourinho.
One of the standout features from his style of play is a trademark burst of acceleration to beat players.
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His ability to get high up the pitch – often to the by-line – and deliver crosses could be a real asset for United next season.
Although he is young and has plenty to learn, Dalot could feature prominently for United should he sign.
He would be expected to provide stiff competition for Antonio Valencia, who will turn 33 in August, while he has shown that he can operate at left-back, an area in which United will be short if Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind are sold.
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