Man Utd contract mistake casts doubt on transfer for Ten Hag favourite

Tom Weber

Updated: 3 Nov 2023 10:50 GMT
4 min read

Erik ten Hag, Man Utd, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Manchester United's decision to extend Diogo Dalot's contract could come back to haunt them.

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The right-back position has always been a headache for Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford and this won't change anytime soon. The Red Devils extended Diogo Dalot's contract in May in a bid to protect his value. Though he started the season as one of the Man Utd's better players, his recent form is a major cause for concern.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Dalot will never be able to consistently show the performances that could see him become a regular at Man Utd. Hooked at half-time after a horror 45 minutes against Newcastle in the embarrassing 3-0 home defeat in the Carabao Cup, Dalot was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who himself had been a dead man walking at the club.

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After performing much better than Dalot against the Magpies, Wan-Bissaka is expected to be given a run in the team, but United will have to make a contract decision on him too. While they will likely trigger a one-year extension as his deal expires at the end of the season, this is ultimately just a short-term fix.

A right-back impasse?

As outlined by the Manchester Evening News, if they decide to tie Wan-Bissaka down to a new long-term contract, as some reports earlier this year suggested, it will mean that both right-backs could be on the books at the club for the next half-decade, in turn giving them little room to manoeuvre when targeting an upgrade for that position.

Erik ten Hag is a long-time admirer of Jeremie Frimpong. He reportedly sees the Bayer Leverkusen defender, who plays more as an attacking winger than a traditional right-back, as ideal for the style he wants to implement at Old Trafford.

However, if both Dalot and Wan-Bissaka are tied down to new deals, a move is unlikely to materialise especially since Frimpong would be a long-term investment and expected to become the undisputed starter in that position.

READ: Man Utd must ask 'serious questions' of Ten Hag after massive transfer oversight

The Dutchman himself recently penned a new deal and is flying high at Leverkusen, topping the Bundesliga and having racked up nine goal involvements in nine games. In the summer, a move to Champions League side Man Utd may have been attractive to the ex-Man City star, but this will surely have changed given the club's current situation.

United will rue the decision to extend Dalot's deal and putting faith in Wan-Bissaka instead of attempting to move for Frimpong in the summer.