Huge Man Utd boost as John Murtough tells European giants to go packing in pursuit of Ten Hag regular

A Manchester United transfer saga looks set to end as their director of football John Murtough has reportedly told Barcelona they will have no chance in luring a player away from Old Trafford.

Several Manchester United players have become transfer targets for other clubs in recent months. Goalkeeper David de Gea could return to Atletico Madrid as he is in the final 12 months of his Manchester United contract. Red Devils chiefs are supposedly looking at Porto’s Diogo Costa and Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao as potential replacements.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has confirmed the club ‘dreams’ of reuniting with Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker’s options have still dwindled though as Napoli have ruled themselves out of the mix to sign him.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, is on West Ham’s shortlist as they look to improve the defensive options available to David Moyes.

Another player who has been linked with a Manchester United exit recently is Diogo Dalot. The right-back is reportedly a target for Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Roma.

Milan know Dalot well after he spent the 2020-21 season on loan with them. Jose Mourinho wants to take the 23-year-old to Roma, meanwhile, as they worked together during his tenure at Man Utd.

Despite these factors, it is Barca who have been pushing the hardest to capture Dalot.

Xavi is having a problem on the right side of defence at the moment. He is having to use Sergio Roberto, Ronald Araujo or Jules Kounde there this season.

Club wants ‘specialist’, but Man Utd holding firm

Roberto prefers to operate in central midfield, while Araujo and Kounde are both centre-halves. And according to Spanish outlet Sport, Barca want a ‘specialist’ to ‘end the debate once and for all’.

Dalot is their prime target. But it seems the Blaugrana will find it incredibly difficult to snare him from Man Utd.

Sport claim Barca have sent an enquiry to Erik ten Hag’s team about Dalot’s availability. But it was met with disgust from Murtough, who has no intention of letting the Portuguese leave.

Due to this, he immediately sent the enquiry back to Barca and told them they can go packing. This means it will be ‘practically impossible’ for Barca to take Dalot to La Liga.

Sport Witness provide their take on the situation and claim Dalot is one of a few ‘untouchables’ for Ten Hag at the club.

Indeed, Ten Hag will love Murtough’s firm stance. The manager has played Dalot in all of Man Utd’s matches so far this season, and he has impressed.

The Braga-born player is well ahead of Wan-Bissaka in the right-back pecking order now. He is forming a good partnership with Antony on the right flank, and he offers more going forward than Wan-Bissaka.

The decision means Xavi will have to look elsewhere for his right-back specialist. However, Sport don’t reveal which alternatives they have in mind.

Meanwhile, Man Utd have apparently been told a prolific forward on Erling Haaland’s level is keen to join them.