After numerous attempts to lure Mason Mount from Chelsea, Manchester United are now setting their sights on Inter Milan's wing-back Federico Dimarco, a move that could take some fans by surprise. Dimarco's impressive performance helped Inter reach the Champions League final, making him an appealing low-cost option for United's coach, Erik ten Hag.
Facing an inability to compete with Arsenal's bid for Declan Rice due to a looming takeover, ten Hag finds himself in a tricky situation. Financial constraints have also led to the club's withdrawal from talks to sign Tottenham's Harry Kane. The Dutch manager has been allocated a budget of £150 million before sales and needs to address several key positions.
Despite Luke Shaw's resurgence establishing him as one of the Premier League's top left-backs, the club is reportedly interested in Dimarco. The Independent reports that both United and Real Madrid have contacted Inter concerning the left-sided defender.
Inter's financial issues may present an opportunity for a reasonable transfer fee. Ten Hag is convinced that Dimarco's adaptability and speed will enhance his squad's versatility for the upcoming season.
United's earlier preference was Napoli's central defender Kim Min-jae. However, a move to Bayern Munich is imminent for the South Korean, with the German club ready to trigger his release clause. Axel Disasi and Jean-Clair Todibo were also considerations, but the potential arrival of Dimarco could lead to a shift in the defensive line-up.
In light of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, Shaw stepped up and proved his mettle. Ten Hag could see Shaw transitioning into a central defender in the future, especially if Dimarco outshines potential candidates Disasi and Todibo.
The ongoing takeover process might result in ten Hag having to stretch a smaller-than-anticipated budget, as potential owners Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not be in charge before the season begins.
High-priced targets like Kane and Rice are likely off the table, and alternatives like Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund carry hefty price tags upwards of £80m.
United remains hopeful of acquiring Mount for less than Chelsea's £70m estimate. A successful pairing of Mount and Dimarco would kickstart their transfer window before the start of pre-season, which is less than a month away.
