Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries.
The Dutchman enjoyed a strong World Cup in Qatar, scoring a goal and supplying two assists on top of that in five games, as Louis van Gaal’s side made it to the quarter-finals of the competition. The wing-back has established himself as a key player for club and country, and he has been linked with a move to the Premier League in this transfer window.
According to Italian journalist Marco Barzaghi (h/t The Express), Manchester United and Chelsea could be involved in a bidding war to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan.
Dumfries, 26, enjoyed a decent first part of the season for Inter where he registered a goal and two assists in 15 Serie A appearances. His performances in Serie A, coupled with his form during the World Cup, has caught the attention of both Man United and Chelsea.
Interestingly, Inter could cash in on the player now for a fee of around €50-60 million amidst interest from some top European clubs, Barzaghi adds.
Denzel Dumfries to Man United—Right option?
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been vocal about adding more quality depth to his squad. The full-back is one of the areas Ten Hag apparently wants to strengthen, as the Red Devils chase a top-four finish.
Diogo Dalot has been excellent this season, establishing himself as the first-choice right-back under Ten Hag. However, he suffered a hamstring injury during Portugal’s quarter-final defeat to Morocco at the World Cup and has subsequently missed the club’s first three games following the season’s restart.
Dalot’s injury has opened the door for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was out of favour until his recent return to the side. Wan-Bissaka is not the archetypal Ten Hag full-back that is composed in possession, creative and adventurous down the flank. So, if the Red Devils manage to offload Wan-Bissaka, signing a player in the ilk of Denzel Dumfries could be the right move.
Dumfries is an attacking and energetic full-back known for lung-busting runs down the flank, crossing and goal-scoring ability. The Netherlands international has proven himself to be a reliable player at the top level, and while he still has a bit of room to improve defensively, he has the ideal profile for a full-back Ten Hag enjoys working with.
At 26, the former PSV Eindhoven man is entering the peak stages of his career and he could make an immediate impact at Man United if he joins next month. He would be a really exciting addition to the Red Devils’ roster, whilst being a reliable player to compete with Dalot for the right-back position.
However, it will be interesting to see if Man United can invest heavily on Dumfries and beat other clubs to his signature this month.
