It was no secret that Manchester United wanted to sign a new right-back in the summer transfer window. In an ideal world, Erik ten Hag would have added one before deadline day, but the position was viewed as a potential area of investment rather than an essential one this year. United held exploratory talks with Barcelona about signing right-back Sergino Dest on a season-long loan earlier this week, viewing the 21-year-old as a better fit for their style of play than current back-up Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The fact that signing a new right-back wasn’t deemed essential certainly indicates the manager is happy with what he’s got to use already, and it is a particular endorsement of Diogo Dalot who is now unquestionably first-choice for United. Wan-Bissaka, 24, lost his status as a first-teamer in the wake of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking last November, but was effectively priced out of a move by United. Crystal Palace declared their interest early in the transfer window but were only prepared to offer £10million for a player they sold to United for £45m just three years ago.
When clubs enquired about the availability of Dalot this summer, United responded by telling them that the only right-back they were prepared to negotiate for was Wan-Bissaka. The only thing that would stop United from pursuing another right-back next year would be an unlikely resurgence for the Englishman or if youngster Ethan Laird saw his stock rise enough while on loan at Championship side QPR.