Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to hand out a contract extension to Diogo Dalot having previously held back on dishing out new deals.
The Dutchman has set about changing the team's culture at Old Trafford following a horror campaign last time out, which saw them finish sixth. Mismanagement on and off the pitch has cost the Red Devils and Ten Hag has no interest in committing to players early in his tenure, having been handed a number of under-performing players on big contracts due to decisions made by previous regimes.
United have, on the whole, taken strides forward under his management so far, but they've also been dealt reality checks against the likes of Manchester City, who hit six past them at the Etihad back in October.
A senior source told the Telegraph on Ten Hag's approach: “He’s still in that phase of ‘Let’s see how people are, let’s see what they are up to. How they adjust, how they handle pressure, how they handle not being picked, how they deal with different challenges.
"He’s still understanding them and over the next month or so he’ll start getting clarity in his head.”
However, it does look as if Dalot has done enough to convince the United boss that he should remain at Old Trafford amid mounting interest in the Portuguese full-back. The 23-year-old has started in all 12 of his side's Premier League games, cementing himself as first choice ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
AC Milan and Barcelona are now both keen on Dalot, but United, according to the Sun, are ready to hand out a one-year extension that will secure his future until the end of next season as Ten Hag continues to shape his squad. That will give them time to discuss a new longer-term deal with the Portuguese, following his impressive start to the campaign.
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The right-back's showings have seen him named in the Portuguese squad for the World Cup with Dalot remaining coy on his future beyond the tournament in Qatar.
He said in a recent interview: “Personally, I’m not one to make long-term plans. I live season by season, month by month and just want to help the team as much I can. Right now, my ambitions are to be at the World Cup to help my national team, and in the end of the season to give trophies to [United] fans because they deserve it.”
Certainly, Dalot has made impressive strides in Manchester this term. Only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances that the right-back, who scored his first goal at Old Trafford in the Europa League last week.
