Jamie Jackson 

José Mourinho targets Porto full-back Diogo Dalot for Manchester United

The Manchester United manager wants the 19-year-old to be his first signing of the summer and sees him as the successor to Antonio Valencia
  
  

Diogo Dalot playing for Porto
Diogo Dalot in action for Porto. The 19-year-old made his senior debut last season and finished with seven appearances. Photograph: Jose Coelho/EPA-EFE

José Mourinho is hopeful of making Porto’s Diogo Dalot his first signing of the summer. Manchester United’s manager is targeting the 19-year-old as a long-term successor to Antonio Valencia at right-back.

Dalot has a release clause of €20m (£17.5m) but it is understood this is yet to be triggered by United for a player who made his debut last season, finishing with seven appearances, six of which were in Porto’s triumphant domestic campaign.

Dalot can also play in midfield and at left-back, the position he has operated in primarily for Sérgio Conceição’s side. He completed all of the 0-0 draw at Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 second leg in March as Porto were knocked out 5-0 on aggregate.

Matteo Darmian, who has been a reserve for Mourinho in both full-back slots, is expected to leave, so Dalot is seen as a replacement for the Italian and as a challenger for Valencia’s first-team berth.

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The teenager was a member the Portugal Under-16 side who won the European Championship two years ago and the Under-17 team who won the corresponding competition 12 months ago.

Mourinho is monitoring Gareth Bale’s situation at Real Madrid and hopes to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred as a midfield successor to Michael Carrick, who has retired. He is also interested in Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld.

 

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