Jose Mourinho close to first summer signing as Manchester United trigger £17.5m clause for Porto defender Diogo Dalot

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Portuguese under-21 international Dalot is expected to challenge captain Antonio Valencia at right-back


Manchester United are expected to sign Porto right-back Diogo Dalot after activating the 20million euro (£17.44million) release clause in his contract. 


An announcement is due within the next few days as manager Jose Mourinho steps up his efforts to strengthen United’s defence this summer as he attempts to close the gap with Manchester City after a trophyless campaign.


It is expected to be a busy summer at Old Trafford with a number of deals mooted but, surprisingly, Dalot is due to be the first signing. United are also in the market for another full-back, a left-back, to strengthen in that area also.




Dalot has already agreed personal terms with United with the highly-rated Portugal Under-21 international expected to push captain Antonio Valencia hard for a place in the first-team.

The 19-year-old only broke into the Porto first-team this season and played out-of-position at left-back during Porto’s Champions League tie away to Liverpool. He has still only made a handful of first-team appearances, however, but is regarded as having great potential.

 Antonio Valencia has made the right-back spot his own at Manchester United
 


Porto accept that they have to sell not least because Dalot’s current contract expires next year and the release clause has been met.


United have moved quickly to sign Dalot amid interest in him from a number of leading clubs throughout Europe including Juventus and Napoli in Italy and the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

Porto are understood to have turned down bids, below Dalot’s release clause, last year but United have now made their move.

Dalot has been described as a modern full-back who is comfortable in attack, with good delivery and an eye for goal, and has operated in midfield. 

He joined Porto’s academy in 2008 and has won honours with the Under-17 Portugal national team, who were crowed European champions in 2016, and also played in the Under-20 World Cup the following year.

Mourinho does not have faith in United’s right-back options beyond Valencia who is 32 and needs back-up for his position to allow him to be rotated. Dalot is expected to be given first-team opportunities with Mourinho clearing out players such as Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind this summer to make way for further recruits.

United are close to a £50m deal for Shakhtar Donetsk's Fred 

 

United are also advanced in a deal to sign Brazil midfielder Fred from the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial £44million which could rise to £50million with add-ons. The club are also pursuing Belgium’s Toby Alderweireld who is expected to leave Tottenham Hotspur for around £50million.


Ideally Mourinho would want both deals secured before the players go to the World Cup next month. It is expected that United will make around five signings this summer with a raft of players, including probably Marouane Fellaini, leaving as Mourinho revamps his squad.

United will also continue to monitor Gareth Bale’s future at Real Madrid having previously informed his representatives that they would like to be involved in any discussion over his future should he decide to leave. However the signing of Alexis Sanchez has limited the funds available to strengthen in forward positions with Mourinho having earmarked defence as a priority.