Manchester United were hoping that Denzel Dumfries would leave Inter Milan this summer after he refused to open talks over a new deal last year, but the right wing-back has now penned fresh terms
Denzel Dumfries celebrates scoring in Inter Milan's 3-3 draw with Barcelona
Manchester United target Denzel Dumfries looks to no longer be on the market
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United's hopes of signing Denzel Dumfries have been dashed as the Dutch defender has signed a new contract with Inter Milan, despite refusing to negotiate last year.
Since Ruben Amorim took over at Old Trafford, the search for effective wing-backs to fit his system has been ongoing. Current options Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui haven't quite hit the mark, and January recruit Patrick Dorgu has yet to make an impact.
In the summer of 2024, it was suggested that superstar Dumfries would hold off on signing a new deal with Inter until after the transfer window closed, and even then, no talks were initiated.
This put United on high alert, as The Athletic reported that Dumfries was keen on a move elsewhere, with United being his preferred destination.
With Amorim's emphasis on wide play, the potential acquisition of a player of Dumfries' quality this summer, as his contract ran down, would have been a major coup for United. However, these aspirations have now been thwarted.
The 29-year-old, who has played a key role in leading last year's Serie A champions to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, has reversed his decision to leave and committed to a new contract in Italy until 2028.
Inter Milan's Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Lazio at San Siro stadium in Milan
Denzel Dumfries has penned a new Inter deal(Image: Getty Images)
Amorim's United are facing a familiar challenge as they seek to strengthen the right wing-back position, having missed out on such potential signings.
The club had been linked with a move for Jeremie Frimpong, the Bundesliga's dynamic 24-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen, whose contract is drawing to a close.
Despite his suitability for Amorim's style and United's reported interest, as noted by German publication BILD, it is Liverpool who are set to clinch Frimpong's signature for an estimated £30million.
With Dutch duo Dumfries and Frimpong slipping through their fingers, United may have to look elsewhere to fill the void on the right flank.
Amorim has previously outlined his criteria for a right-sided player, emphasising after a victory against Everton last December: "What I want is a good one-against-one, to open the field, to play, to close the field when we lose the ball, and it is the same in every team."
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa full-back Stephen Warnock also weighed in on the attributes needed for a successful wing-back in the Premier League, stating to The Athletic: "You've got to be able to get up and down the pitch.
"You also need replacements to come on and be able to play in those areas," he added, hinting that a single new player in these positions might not suffice for United.
"If you are going to be up and down in that position, then you've got to be able to run yourself into the ground for, say, 70 to 80 minutes, and then maybe at the end of the game, you need someone to come on and just fill in that gap."