Real Madrid 'weighing up bid for Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot'

Real Madrid are reportedly contemplating whether to make a move for Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot.

Although the right-back has been contracted to United since 2018, it has only been during 2022-23 where he has established himself as a first-team regular.

Up until the World Cup, the Portugal international fended off competition from Aaron Wan-Bissaka on a weekly basis, seemingly making it a formality that he would eventually pen fresh terms.

However, since returning from Qatar with an injury, the 23-year-old has watched Wan-Bissaka take full advantage and play the majority of fixtures over the past two months.

Dalot has not completed 90 minutes in the Premier League since November 6, while Wan-Bissaka got the nod for Thursday's Europa League fixture against Barcelona.

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While United are still expected to press ahead with formally offering Dalot a new contract, he now has under 17 months remaining on his existing terms.

Unlike with many of their players, United do not possess the option of extending that deal by a further year, and the situation has seemingly caught the attention of Real.

According to AS, the 2022 Champions League winners are interested in securing the signature of Dalot in the summer.

Los Blancos have long been blessed with options on the right-hand side of their backline with Dani Carvajal holding that position for almost a decade.

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Nevertheless, the Spain international has just turned 31 years of age, the same age as his understudy Lucas Vazquez who turns a year older in July.

The same report suggests that the La Liga giants are also monitoring Manchester City's Joao Cancelo, who was allowed to move to Bayern Munich on loan in January, but have concerns that he is already 29 years old.

Real would allegedly be prepared to wait until 2024 if United do not entertain parting ways with Dalot for a cut-price fee in the summer.

Vazquez's contract is due to expire at the end of 2023-24, while Carvajal possesses a deal at the Bernabeu until 2025.