Man Utd receive lowball first bid for Diogo Dalot as new option emerges
AC Milan have made an informal offer of around £12m to sign Diogo Dalot on a permanent basis from Manchester United, a report claims.
Dalot joined United from Porto in 2018 but struggled for gametime at Old Trafford. Injuries were partially to blame, but the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka one year later pushed him further down the pecking order. Hence, he was sent to Milan on loan for the current campaign.
The Portugal under-21 international has ticked off the number one objective for his loan spell: staying fit. He has enjoyed a decent run in the side, totalling 24 appearances in all competitions for Milan so far – including in both legs of their Europa League defeat to his parent club.
There has been talk of a permanent deal for Dalot, even though he remains under contract with United until 2023. Milan are hesitant to pay the full asking price, though.
According to the Metro, United want to recoup at least the £18m they spent on Dalot originally. But now, Milan have come in with a low-ball, informal offer.
The Serie A side are seeking to buy Dalot for a cheaper amount and could put £12m on the table. United are unlikely to agree to such terms.
The report adds that, if they cannot get the fee they want, United could yet send Dalot out on loan for another season. If he performs well again, his market value could raise further.
Dalot would be open to staying with Milan, but also sees “unfinished business” in Manchester. Either way, he will hope to keep getting regular gametime next season.
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But the chances of that being the case at United are growing slimmer. The Metro add that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reluctant to block Ethan Laird’s pathway into the first team.
The academy product could get more opportunities at right-back next season, even though Wan-Bissaka will remain first choice.
Therefore, reintegrating Dalot would block that space. Solskjaer may prefer to find somewhere else for Dalot to play – be that back at Milan or elsewhere.
Other clubs, such as Napoli, are also interested in his permanent signature – but will need to act quicker if Milan are making moves now.
Dalot in no hurry to decide
The full-back recently opened up on his future and admitted he would likely wait until the summer to make a decision.
He told O Jogo: “That is exactly it. This is not the time to decide, because it won’t be decided for now. So it’s not even worth thinking about how things will end.
“I want to maintain the same line of thought that I have had so far, which is to focus on Milan, to be able to play and to be able to help the team until the end of the season.
“Then, we will see soon, depending on what is best for all parties. Now, quite frankly, I’m not focused on that, because it could attract extra pressure that’s not needed.
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“I have to be calm, do what I have done so far and try every day to help this great club that has given me what I was looking for this season: to have enough minutes.
“For me, the most important thing at the moment is to look at the stats and see that I’m back to having a great series of games in a few months. That’s what I value most so far; that’s what made me come here.”
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