Jose Mourinho planning January loan raid on Man Utd as he eyes 'reunion'

Jose Mourinho is reportedly looking to reunite with his former Manchester United charge Diogo Dalot at Roma.

Mourinho was the man who took Dalot to Old Trafford in 2018 in a £19million deal.

At the time, Mourinho branded the then-19-year-old the "best full-back in Europe" for his age, but Dalot has struggled to force his way in at United.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is ahead of him in the pecking order and it was thought Dalot might be allowed to leave in the summer.

Instead Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to loan out youngster Brandon Williams, while Dalot has made just two substitute appearances so far this season.

Diogo Dalot made his second appearance of the season against Young Boys last week ( Image:

Manchester United via Getty Imag)

His performances on loan at AC Milan have made him a fairly sought-after player over in Italy, with Mourinho now keen to link back up with him at the Stadio Olimpico.

According to CalcioMercato, Mourinho is planning a January swoop to sign Dalot on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

It could prove difficult to land his fellow Portuguese though, given Williams will still be on the books of Norwich and United have no other recognised cover at right-back.

Dalot's importance to the United squad has already been evidenced by him coming on for United against Young Boys last week, after Wan-Bissaka had been sent off.

Wan-Bissaka will now miss the game with Villarreal next week, giving Dalot a chance for some added minutes.

It is likely Dalot will start Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash against West Ham this week, too.

Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned down late loan approaches from both Milan and Borussia Dortmund this summer to keep Dalot at close quarters, and his latest comments suggest he has no intentions of allowing him to leave on loan in January, either.

"Diogo has had a very good summer with being called into [Portugal's] Euro [2020] squad.

"He did well for Portugal, he had a season where he learned a lot from in Milan, he kept fit that was a big thing and he's got qualities that we look at trying to exploit more and more.

"He's got more experience. We're not here just to loan out players for years and years.

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"Last year's loan was to give him experience and game time and I think he did well when he came on the other night."

One possible option which might entice Solskjaer though is if Roma could lodge a permanent bid for Dalot's services.

United were keen on signing Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid in the summer and it is thought they could renew their interest.

Tripper's contract was due to expire next summer until he triggered a one-year extension at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico are not planning to sell the versatile defender, 31, meaning United would have to stump up some cash to prise him away from the La Liga club.

Should Dalot impress this season, there is every chance Solskjaer may opt to retain him for the long term.