La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly initiated discussions to secure the services of Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona and Manchester United have begun negotiations over a possible move for Diogo Dalot in the ongoing transfer window. The Portuguese defender has usurped Juan Foyth in the Catalan club’s pecking order for right-back targets.
Diogo Dalot was on top of the world when he joined Manchester United from FC Porto nearly four years ago, with Jose Mourinho hailing him as the best young full-back in Europe at the time. But the 23-year-old has been slogging to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Old Trafford during his stint with Manchester United.
The Portuguese international spent one season on loan at AC Milan but has done well to become the first-choice right-back since returning to Manchester United last summer. But Dalot has failed to impress in his two outings thus far in the 2022/23 season, with the Red Devils struggling for consistency. However, that has not stopped Barcelona from lining up a summer move for Dalot.
Barcelona entered the summer transfer window intending to overhaul Xavi Hernandez’s squad. While they have succeeded in doing that to a great extent, bolstering the two full-back spots has been troublesome for the Blaugrana. As for the right-back berth, Dani Alves’s departure as a free agent had left Barcelona scouring the market for a replacement.
With Sergino Dest surplus to requirements amid interest from Manchester United, Xavi does not have a natural right-back at his disposal. Dalot has thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar over a possible move in the ongoing transfer window. And the Catalan giants have reportedly opened talks with Manchester United for the 23-year-old defender.
According to the report, the Portuguese defender has toppled Juan Foyth as Barcelona’s top target to reinforce the right-back options. And while recent reports claimed Dalot did not want to join Barcelona, negotiations between the Blaugrana and Manchester United are progressing well.
Manchester United reportedly even attempted to use Dalot as a makeweight to sign Dest, but that ploy did not work. It will be interesting to see if discussions between Barcelona and the Red Devils continue to progress smoothly, with Dalot now Barcelona’s top right-back target this summer.
