Contract issue gives Man Utd chance to sign world-class left-back

Updated: 12 Sept 2026 13:24 BST |
5 min read

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Manchester United have been offered the opportunity to reignite their pursuit of Inter superstar Federico Dimarco amid ongoing uncertainty over his contract situation.

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The Red Devils refrained from making a left-back signing this summer after being told by Newcastle that top target Lewis Hall was not for sale. Instead of trying to force the issue, Man Utd kept their powder dry in hopes of being able to revisit a deal for the England starlet next year.

However, the chances of a transfer have drastically decreased following Hall’s decision to sign a new contract at Newcastle. This has forced Man Utd to consider possible alternatives.

Bournemouth star Adrien Truffert is now being touted as a “premier” target for the Old Trafford club, while players such as Ferdi Kadioglu and Neco Williams could also become options. Joaquin Seys of Club Brugge and Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde were briefly considered this summer.

Another option could be to go back in for Inter star Dimarco. In March, FootballTransfers reported that the Red Devils viewed the Italy international as a key target for the summer, with the notable caveat that prising him away from the Nerazzurri would be incredibly challenging.

Dimarco to Man Utd?

This is exactly how things turned out, with Inter making it clear that their homegrown star was not for sale. Dimarco himself, too, was not particularly keen on leaving his boyhood club.

We added that Inter were keen to hand the left-back a new contract. At the time, this made the move a non-starter. Now, however, it has become a source of frustration and could turn the situation on its head.

That’s because Inter have been dragging their feet in handing Dimarco fresh terms. His deal expires next year, but the club have the option to extend it by a further season, hence the lack of urgency. They planned to trigger the extension and then hold fresh talks.

The decision to wait was perhaps informed by the behind-the-scenes turmoil in recent weeks. Sporting director Piero Ausilio departed Inter earlier this month after a whopping 28 years at the club. He has been replaced by his former deputy Dario Baccin.

Dimarco, though, isn’t best pleased with the situation. Speaking at the Gran Gala del Calcio last week, the 28-year-old said: “After what I did last year, I would have expected the club to call me about my contract.”

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, this comment caused “surprise” at Inter, prompting officials to hold a face-to-face clear-the-air discussion with the player. This talk was “constructive” and positive.

Inter consider the matter closed, and Baccin will discuss a new contract with Dimarco’s representative shortly. All parties want to reach an agreement, with the left-back keen to continue playing for his favourite club.

However, that may not actually be the end of the story. The report notes that Inter have a clear objective to trim down their payroll. Older players, like Dimarco, are expected to be given more incentivised contracts with smaller guaranteed salaries.

Naturally, then, there is the potential for these negotiations to face difficulties. A player of Dimarco’s stature and importance surely won’t be thrilled about not getting a raise or perhaps even being asked to take a pay cut.

Obviously, it’s early days, so there is no way of knowing for sure how these discussions will pan out. Should no agreement be reached, however, Dimarco could once again become an option for Man Utd.

He may not fit the Red Devils’ age profile, but their interest from March shows that they are not concerned about this. Considering his quality, it is easy to see why. According to data analytics firm SciSports, Dimarco is the fourth-best left-back in the world at present.

This situation will be one to watch going forward.