The bookmakers have made Wolverhampton Wanderers the favourites to land Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot this summer (via The Birmingham Mail). Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are leading the chase for the Portuguese full-back’s signature as they look to find a suitable replacement for Matt Doherty, who joined Tottenham Hotspur recently.
Dalot’s Injury Struggles At Old Trafford Last Season
Dalot endured a frustrating campaign at the Theatre of Dreams in the last term as he struggled to earn a regular run of first-team starts for the Red Devils. The Portuguese U-21 international made 11 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the previous campaign, scoring one goal across all fronts. He missed a significant chunk of the 2019-20 Premier League season due to a hip injury and later, a groin problem.
Despite his injury concerns, the Braga-born right-back did well to find some form in European football after he averaged 1.3 tackles, 2.0 interceptions, 2.3 clearances, 0.7 shots, 0.7 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per game in the UEFA Europa League last season. Dalot even completed 84% of his attempted passes in that competition which highlights how accurate he can be with his ball-distribution from the right-back position (stats via whoscored).
The 21-year-old has shown a few encouraging signs during his spell at Manchester even though he has failed to give a good account of himself over a sustained period for the club. Multiple injuries have hampered his progress at the north-west of England. Therefore Dalot could welcome a fresh start at the Molineux Stadium if Nuno Espirito Santo can find a way to acquire his services in this off-season.
What Will The Portuguese Full-Back Bring To The West Midlands?
Dalot is a pacey right-back who can make a few driving runs with the ball to get to the by-line and whip in some inviting crosses into the opponent’s penalty box. He has a good leap in him that allows him to jump higher and win the ball when being tested by the opposition in the air. The Portuguese starlet has an aggressive playing style and can be a reliable defensive presence at the back. However, the jury is still out on whether he will able to overcome his recent injury concerns and show a clean bill of health in the coming seasons.
Will Recruiting Dalot Be A Good Move For Wolves This Summer?
Signing an injury-prone full-back like Dalot could be a risky move for Wolves as they won’t be able to benefit from his services if he is out sidelined for over half a season. At the same time, the Man United youngster has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday as he has got all the skillset needed to find success at the highest level.
Furthermore, Dalot will be an ideal replacement for Doherty as he will enjoy playing as a wing-back in Nuno Espirito Santo’s 3-5-2 system at the Molineux next season. All in all, the Portuguese prospect’s acquisition will be a decent move for the West Midlands side heading into the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.
