Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrival raises questions over Diogo Dalot role at Man Utd but his future remains bright

Dalot likely to fall behind Wan-Bissaka in the right-back pecking order.
AFP/Getty Images

“I think Gary Neville must be thinking that Manchester United now has a very good right back for 10 years.”

Those were the words of Jose Mourinho back in December – and less than two weeks later, he was out of a job.

Now Diogo Dalot has been left to count the cost.

The Portuguese right-back was supposed to be the future at Old Trafford.

Signed for £19m last summer – he was heralded as a triumph of United’s scouting department and a thumb in the eye to anyone who questioned Mourinho’s commitment to youth. Then aged 19, Dalot was considered a work in progress – but a player who would save United a fortune in years to come.

Wan-Bissaka has undergone a medical with United.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Roll the clock forward 12 months and instead of facing competition from two ageing, converted wingers in Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, he will now go head-to-head with the most expensive defender in United’s history for the right-back berth.

And one of a similar age and profile, too.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s £50m move from Crystal Palace is seen as being transformative to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. And at 21, United believe they have spent heavily to solve a problem position for the long-term.

Wan-Bissaka has not been recruited to act as back-up to anyone. He has been brought in to give Solskjaer’s side a much-needed new dimension.

The question is – where does that leave Dalot, an attack-minded full-back, blessed with pace and quality distribution?

Those are the same attributes that made Wan-Bissaka so appealing to Solskjaer and why he thought it vital to breathe new life into his defence by balancing out Luke Shaw on the left, with the England Under-21 international on the right.

Should he secure top central defensive target Harry Maguire then he will have rear-guard built around ball-playing centre halves – including Victor Lindelof – and expansive full backs.

It would mark a dramatic shift from the staid and laboured build up play that became typical of United under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

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On the face of it, Dalot is the odd man out.

But his versatility has already been noted by Solskjaer, who is prepared to play him at left back, as well in wide areas further forward.

His outstanding crossing was already witnessed in his first season at Old Trafford – and with United still to sign an established right winger, he may yet find opportunities there when not deputising for Wan-Bissaka.

Dalot should still get chances next season.
AP

Also, such are the demands of the modern full-back – and Solskjaer’s plans to utilise Shaw and Wan-Bissaka as fundamental parts of his attack – high class cover is required.

Pep Guardiola is determined to bring in a top quality right-back to provide competition for Kyle Walker next season, having signed Brazil international Danilo to do precisely that two years ago.

Even if not first choice, Dalot should still find himself heavily involved and a key member of United’s squad.

And given Ashley Young’s alarming slump in form in the second half last season, he may well find himself first choice back-up on the left as well as the right.

United’s coaching staff remain encouraged by his potential – even if his debut campaign failed to hit the heights on a consistent basis.

That Solskjaer considered Wan-Bissaka one of his priority targets this summer is evidence of his own concerns about that area of his squad.

But now, with two right backs aged 21 and under, United may well have found a solution for the next 10 years.

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