José Mourinho has decided to prioritise signing a central defender, with Harry Maguire a potential target, after the acquisition of Diogo Dalot bolstered his full-back options for Manchester United.
The manager had previously indicated both full-back positions needed improvement, but the £19m signing of Dalot from Porto has convinced him to trust Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young as first-choice options, with Dalot and Luke Shaw providing competition.
Despite the 19-year-old Dalot being virtually untested at senior level, and Shaw’s unconvincing United career, Mourinho believes the full-back positions are now adequately covered. Valencia and Young, both converted wingers, will be 33 when the season begins against Leicester City.
Demetri Mitchell may also feature at left-back, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah is expected to go on loan again. Mourinho’s decision to target a centre-back underscores his doubts over Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelöf, as well as Phil Jones’s injury proneness.
Maguire, who impressed for England at the World Cup, would cost at least £50m and could add fresh impetus to United’s ability to build attacks from defence, according to Mourinho.
