Manchester United have the goal of adding a new right-back this summer, but they may need to reassess their plans. Diogo Dalot received a lot of praise for his performance in the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool at Old Trafford. He has solidified his position as one of the most reliable and valuable players on the team. Consistently delivering performances that are consistently high quality, the Portuguese player has reclaimed his spot as United’s starting right-back after a tough competition with Aaron Wan-Bissaka last season. Gareth Southgate suggests that Kobbie Mainoo may make his England debut. His recent performances have been similar to the ones he displayed before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he solidified his place as a key player in the starting lineup. Once again, he is in a familiar position even after Wan-Bissaka’s return from injury. Throughout this season, the former AC Milan loan player has made significant progress by adapting and refining his playing style to keep up with the current trend of a contemporary full-back. He frequently drops back into midfield to provide additional support in the center, giving United an extra player in the middle of the field. Additionally, he has made strides in his defensive abilities, dispelling the belief that he is only valuable to United when it comes to attacking. Throughout the current Premier League season, he has maintained an average of 2.2 tackles, 2.9 clearances, and 5.7 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, with only being dribbled past 0.5 times. Additionally, he has been a reliable player for Erik ten Hag, consistently appearing in every match across all competitions without any injury absences. He has been omitted from just one matchday squad this season, which was against West Ham United on December 23rd because he was suspended for a red card he received in the previous game against Liverpool. Other than that, he has played in 38 out of 40 matches for United this season. He didn’t play in the opening weekend match against Wolves and also missed the game against West Ham due to suspension.
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