Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot this January transfer window.
The Portuguese player is a consistent name in new manager and fellow compatriot Ruben Amorim‘s starting XI but has been playing out of position on the left flank pretty much non-stop due to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s continued injury issues.
However, with Madrid looking to urgently sign a new fullback to fill in for a crucial absentee of their own in Dani Carvajal, a few names have been shortlisted as cover.
Although Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is being linked most heavily, the Premier League leaders have rejected the La Liga giants’ advances thus far and it is believed that Dalot could be second choice.
Real Madrid are desperate for a right-back after Dani Carvajal’s injury, hence the Trent bid now.
As reported last month, if, and likely when, any move for Trent fails, Diogo Dalot is another on their list. #MUFChttps://t.co/00QY7i6sPB
As per The i Paper sport writer, Peter Hall, the 25-year-old right-back is one of a few players being eyed up by Carlo Ancelotti’s side if Los Blancos fail to sweet-talk Alexander-Arnold.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Liverpool and England international has long been admired by the club along with most big European teams over the past few years, but Merseyside’s homegrown talent – known for his incredible vision, passing range and strength on set pieces – has seemingly been playing down transfer talk.
With Carvajal confirmed to be out for the season following surgery on a ruptured cruciate ligament, Madrid need to sign a back-up this month, and given that Trent is currently on track for his second league title, any chance they stand probably wouldn’t even come close to materialising until the summer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Taking that into account, the Madrid board will likely have to look elsewhere for a right-back for now and with Dalot having played a wing-back both at United and on loan at Milan as well as an out-and-out winger during his youth at Porto, he could is considered a good utility fit in the meantime.
The outlet goes on to claim that they are plotting a potential £50 million move for the attack-minded defender should if/when their pursit of Alexander-Arnold ends.
As for whether United would be willing to let him go given how short they are in defence and that position, specifically, that remains to be seen. Known for his characteristic beating of the badge with his fist towards the fans each game, it’s also worth noting that Dalot seems fairly at home in Manchester.
ADVERTISEMENT
He recently visited the Classic Football Shirts shop in Northern Quarter for an episode of Ellis Platten’s Away Days.
Another element that could factor into whether or not this transfer link goes anywhere is Man United’s own financial position and fissures in the squad at present.
In fact, the billionaire is continue his spree of cost-cutting measures around Old Trafford and Carrington, having upped remaining tickets prices for this season, made over 250 staff redundant and even targeted the United Foundation most recently, cutting funding for what is a crucial charity arm in the community.
None of these decision have proved particualry popular; on the other hand, the sale of Dalot for the fee reported could not only help keep in line with PSR (profit and sustainability rules) but could maybe even help fund a move for, say, a new full-back or two.
Alternatively, there have been calls from fans to sign yet another another forward in light of their evident lack of goals this season – namely a former player of Amorim, in particular.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres is one of the most in-form goalscorers on the planet right now and were his former coach given the opportunity to snap him up, he surely wouldn’t hesitate – not that the 26-year-old is adding any fuel to the fire.
Once again, though, serious funds would need to be gathered in order to make a move for the Swedish striker and even the supposed £50 for Dalot would only be a dent in the final figure.
What about you, Reds: would you accept an offer from Madrid for Dalot; would you reinvest it straight back into the squad and, if so, whereabouts on the pitch?
Featured Images — NBC Sports (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Thomas Tuchel quote from early interview as England manager comes back to haunt him
Danny Jones
A quote from one of Thomas Tuchel’s first interviews as England boss looks to have come back to haunt him online after his squad limped out of the 2026 World Cup following their semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Ironic seems to be the word being thrown around the most…
The Three Lions fell at the penultimate hurdle against the genius of Lionel Messi and their old foes in ‘La Albiceleste’, despite grabbing the opening goal and looking the more dangerous on the counter-attack for large parts of the match.
Conversely, many have been quick to criticise Tuchel for his tactics and decision to go more defensive after taking the lead, not only sitting back but taking off some more advanced players who could have provided. Cue what some have called a “damning” clip rearing its head on social media…
👀🏴 Thomas Tuchel on England's Euro 2024 campaign: "They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it"
While it might still be a valid point in relation to why previous manager Gareth Southgate’s couldn’t cross the finish line not only at the last Euros but in Euro 2020 as well (the latter of which we also scored first in), it now feels rather hypocritical to many given how lots of fans believe he tried to see out the tie.
There’s plenty of fair comments about England’s style and gameplan(s)/lack thereof – even at times this past few weeks – but they nevertheless managed to make it yet another semi-final.
It’s worth noting, by the way, that this is the third time they’ve reached this point in the knockout stages across the previous quartet of major competitions, just for a little worthwhile perspective on how far the national team setup has come over the best part of the last decade.
And that’s not including a quarter-final finish in the 2019 Nations League, either.
Of course, we also made it through to the last four at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team bowed out to a ruthless France side by arguably playing too open, but they still showed attacking intent and tried to win the game back then.
It’s that distinction in approach, it would seem, that has left the vast majority of supporters, pundits and English people who were watching on last night so frustrated, as much like his remarks above back in March 2025, it looked as though the idea was to sit back and hang on to their slim advantage.
As evidenced by the comment and numerous reposts, countless people couldn’t agree more with reporter Tim Vickery’s analysis of what went wrong, or rather what changed, which then led to letting Argentina gain the ascendancy and our downfall.
To put it into numbers, between the 67th and 92nd minute, the players had little more than 7% possession, with only a few touches in the opposition box; in fact, Harry Kane didn’t manage to receive the ball even once inside the penalty area.
Now THAT, we would agree, can be seen as ‘damning’ statistics and stuff to hear, especially when the German coach has already claimed that England have been guilty of being too scared to lose in big fixtures in the past. Here’s what he had to say this time around:
Do you agree with his post-match thoughts?
Credit where credit is due, he didn’t mince his words when it came to accountability and certainly hasn’t shied away from being brutally honest through this tournament.
You only have to look at his words after a narrow victory in the quarters against Norway – which star man Jude Bellingham took umbrage with last week – to know he takes responsibility and his own standards very seriously.
Who knows whether the issues came from the technical area, or the players themselves simply struggled to keep their confidence to stick to the task; all we know is we’re gutted not only with the result but by the manner in which we lost. What did you make of the
It might not come as any real consolation, but in case you missed the news, Lionel Scaloni’s side do look like they are due to be punished for a provocative, politically-charged statement after full-time.
Featured Images — ITV Sport/BBC (screenshots via YouTube)
Sport
Micah Richards reveals dad ‘unexpectedly’ died shortly before going on air for England v Argentina last night
Emily Sergeant
Micah Richards has revealed that his dad died shortly before he went on air for the World Cup semi final last night.
The former right back – who most-notably played for Manchester City for a decade from 2005-2015, and for the England national team from 2006-2012 – was one of the BBC’s pundits providing on-air analysis last night as England faced Argentina in a highly anticipated semi final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night.
The two teams faced off in Atlanta, and while goals came from both sides, it was ultimately Argentina that reigned supreme – securing a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
But while much of the country is grieving the fact that football won’t be ‘coming home’ (well, for another two years at least), Richards is grieving on a deeper level.
He took to Instagram after the loss last night to share with his 1.4m followers that shortly before he went on air, his father Lincoln passed away ‘unexpectedly’ – calling him the ‘proudest parent possible’ in a touching tribute.
“He has left us all too soon,” Richards began in his tribute.
“Hwas my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
“I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else.
“I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.”
Danny Jones -
2nd January 2025 
