Jose Mourinho is plotting a double transfer raid on his former club Manchester United this summer with Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka both on his shortlist for Roma.
It comes after the Portuguese boss led the Giallorossi to the UEFA Conference League against Feyenoord in Tirana last week, Nicolo Zaniolo's first-half strike proving enough for the Italian giants. Mourinho is now drawing up his transfer plans for the summer window to continue building his squad.
Dalot was signed by Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2018 – the manager's final transfer window during his two-and-a-half-year stint in the United dugout. The Portuguese defender had acted as an understudy to Antonio Valencia and then Wan-Bissaka this summer before being trusted by United's interim boss Ralf Rangnick in the second half of this season.
Of his 32 Premier League starts, 19 of them came under Rangnick – who decided that he was the club's best option in the position as Wan-Bissaka was sidelined. Now, Roma boss Mourinho is weighing up moves for both players this summer.
That is according to a report from Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited by Football Italia, who claim that both full-backs are on Mourinho's radar. Rick Karsdorp has been first-choice in the position for Mourinho’s side this season while Ainsley Maitland-Niles will return to Arsenal after a disappointing loan spell in the Italian capital.
United are set to cash-in on Wan-Bissaka this summer, but whether Roma could afford a deal is questionable. Dalot could be another option for the Italian club with the report claiming that a loan deal with an option to buy could be on the table. New United boss Erik ten Hag is likely to look to strengthen the position among multiple comings and goings this summer.
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Mourinho has previously claimed that Dalot had the requisite skillset to be a regular for the Red Devils for upwards of a decade. The Portuguese boss lavished praise upon the defender following a 3-0 win at Young Boys in the Champions League group stage four years ago, in which Dalot excelled.
Mourinho said after the game: "Everyone can see the potential and everyone could see he's a 19-year-old player who has more than 10 years to play for Manchester United."
Discussing Dalot in 2018 after agreeing his transfer from FC Porto, Mourinho said: "In his age group, he is the best full-back in Europe. "He is an extremely talented young defender with all the qualities to quickly become a great player for this club [United].
"He has all the attributes that a full-back needs: physicality, tactical intelligence and technical quality, combined with a Porto academy mentality which prepares players for the maturity they need at the professional level."
