Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries has signed a new contract extension at Inter Milan
Denzel Dumfries, has signed a new contract with Inter Milan, despite his refusal to negotiate new terms last year - which had given Manchester United hope of addressing their wing-back problems.
Since Ruben Amorim took over at Old Trafford, the search for effective wing-backs to fit his system has been ongoing. Players such as Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, and Noussair Mazraoui have not met expectations, and Patrick Dorgu, who was signed in January, has yet to make an impact.
In the summer of 2024, it was reported that Dutch defender Dumfries would not agree to a new deal with Inter until after the transfer window closed, and even then, no negotiations took place. 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 arrival and his emphasis on wide play, the prospect of securing a player of Dumfries' quality this summer, as his contract was running down, would have been a boon for United, but these hopes have now been quashed.
The 29-year-old, who played a key role in leading last year's Scudetto winners to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, has reversed his decision to leave and has committed to a new contract in Italy until 2028.
Amorim's team finds itself in a familiar quandary, needing to bolster the right-sided wing-back spot. This summer, there was speculation linking Old Trafford with Dumfries' compatriot and Bundesliga sensation Jeremie Frimpong.
The 24-year-old was instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen's impressive unbeaten league run last season, and as his contract draws to a close, he has attracted considerable interest. Despite being an ideal fit for Amorim's style at United and active efforts to secure a deal, Liverpool won the race to his signature.
With both Dumfries and Frimpong slipping through their fingers, United's search is likely to shift focus, given the glaring vacancy on the right flank.
Amorim has previously outlined his criteria for a right-sided player after a victory against Everton last December, saying: "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 spoke to The Athletic about the qualities needed for a successful wing-back in the Premier League, emphasising: "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. 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."
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