Manchester United could dip into the free agent market to sign cover for Diogo Dalot - according to reports.
Having appointed Erik ten Hag as their permanent manager this summer, United enjoyed a successful first window under the Dutchman as six players - including Casemiro and Christian Eriksen - were recruited as part of an ongoing and much-needed rebuild. Eriksen, 30, cost the club nothing following his departure from Brentford.
Reports at Fox Sports [via Sports Illustrated ] hint that United could opt to use that avenue in the near future, too, amid suggestions they could move for Colombian right-back Santiago Arias - who is currently without a club. Arias, 30, spent four seasons with Atletico Madrid and played against England for his country during the 2018 World Cup showcase in Russia.
READ MORE: United taking risk with options
Dalot, 23, continues to impress as first choice at right-back this season. However, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka deemed surplus to requirements, Ten Hag wants to sign another option. And it has been claimed Arias has 'packed his bags' and is ready to sign a two-year contract with the Premier League giants.
Arias spent time on loan with Granada last season. He has been capped 54 times by Colombia.
Elsewhere, it has been claimed Ten Hag was 'blocked' from signing another player from Ajax this summer. After he was appointed to the Old Trafford helm, the 52-year-old sanctioned moves for Lisandro Martinez and Antony after they formed a key part of his team with the Amsterdam giants.
Had things turned out differently, though, they could have been followed to Manchester by another player - striker Brian Brobbey - as he continues to forge his reputation in the Eredivisie. Brobbey started his career at Ajax and went to RB Leipzig before re-signing for the Dutch champions this summer.
At that time, United looked into signing him, although it would have technically been from the German side that he touched down following a loan spell back with Ajax last term. However, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, that proposition was promptly shut down.
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