Man Utd are pressing ahead in their attempts to sign Lyon full-back Malo Gusto to help them solve their issues at right-back, according to reports.
It has become clear that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is now surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after a disappointing spell since signing from Crystal Palace for £50m in 2019.
He was their first-choice right-back for most of last season until interim boss started playing Diogo Dalot more and new Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag has kept the Portugal international in his side.
Dalot has produced some good performances for Man Utd this season but there is a worry that they could soon lose him with his contract running out at the end of the season.
Man Utd have a one-year option on the 23-year-old, which they are very likely to take up, but there are rumours Barcelona could attempt to take advantage of the uncertainty by signing him in the summer.
A report yesterday called Dalot a ‘main ally’ of Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club by mutual consent after his controversial interview with Piers Morgan aired.
There were claims that the Man Utd squad were unhappy with the explosive interview but Dalot and some others sided with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s exit is understood to be beneficial to Barcelona as they look to convince Dalot to sign for them with his compatriot potentially ‘key’ to convincing him to stay at Old Trafford.
But Man Utd have a plan with Lyon youngster Gusto lined up for a summer move after making a number of impressive performances in Ligue 1.
Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg claims in an ‘exclusive’ that Man Utd see the ‘very highly-rated’ Gusto as their ‘big solution’ at right-back.
They reckon he could be available for between €30m (£26m) and €40m (£34m) in the summer, while Ten Hag is ‘pushing’ for Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong ‘is still’ a possibility.
Another problem position for Man Utd is up front, following Ronaldo’s departure, with Marcus Rashford and an injury-prone Anthony Martial their only two senior strikers.
The Red Devils have been linked with numerous Ronaldo replacements but Ten Hag is excited about Rashford’s potential.
“From the first moment, I recognised huge potential,” Ten Hag told the club’s official website. “And now to get out the potential, I believe when Marcus’s positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world.
“There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him, but when he [Marcus] is getting in that position, he’s great and you see he’s really improved also out of possession.”
READ MORE: Transfer gossip: James Maddison a ‘top target’ for Liverpool as Man Utd bid £80m for Croatia star
