Real Madrid are allegedly contemplating whether to make an approach for Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot.
Los Blancos are known to be in the market for a new right-back courtesy of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez reaching 32 and 33 years of age respectively.
Speculation persists that Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is their first-choice target for that position, particularly when the England international's contract expires at the end of the season.
However, with the Premier League leaders not prepared to sell the long-serving star for a cut-price fee in January, it leaves Real Madrid to consider alternatives.
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Real to test United stance?
According to i, Real are open to making a formal offer for Dalot during the January window.
The report suggests that the European champions may be prepared to spend as much as £50m on a player who can be deployed at both right-back and left-back.
Since arriving at Old Trafford in 2018, Dalot has established himself as an important member of the squad under different managers, making 186 appearances in all competitions.
Dalot has missed just two of United's last 57 matches in the Premier League, highlighting the standing that he currently holds in the squad.
Nevertheless, head coach Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that United are not in a position to sign new players unless they raise funds through player sales.
Although Dalot is said to remain happy at the Theatre of Dreams, it is unclear whether he would reconsider his stance if Madrid came calling for his signature.
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Would Amorim give green light?
In every area of the pitch, there are players who are considerable to be sellable assets as United look to boost their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
However, the likelihood is that Dalot is one of the few squad members who is regarded as unavailable when United continue to have issues at left-back.
Possessing a contract until 2028, the Portugal international is tied to United in the long term and is not on the level of wages that some of the club's under-performing players are receiving.
Furthermore, Dalot is key to Amorim courtesy of his ability to play at wing-back, and it would cost a vast amount of money to replace what the 25-year-old brings to the squad if he was sold.
Darren Plant
