Manchester United star Diogo Dalot is one of the players Barcelona have had their eyes on as a possible option to reinforce the right-back slot.

The Portuguese international has been at Manchester United since 2018, but it is only in the past 12-15 months that he has gained prominence within the team, establishing himself as the first-choice right-back ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Barcelona, whose right-back issues need no introduction, had been eyeing Dalot as a target, especially due to the fact that his current contract with the Red Devils stood to expire at the end of the current season.

But the 23-year-old’s deal had a unilateral option through which the club could prolong his stay by another year, which they have already done.

Now, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Manchester United are working to tie Dalot down to a long-term contract at Old Trafford.

The report suggests that while the renewal agreement is not fully closed, it is in an advanced stage at this moment.

Talks between the Premier League club and Dalot’s agents are understood to have been going on since the end of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. And, United have reportedly tabled a five-year contract, the economic conditions of which are currently being discussed.

Dalot, whose market value is around €35 million, himself had admitted last month that he was happy in Manchester and had confirmed negotiations over a new deal.

“We are in a position to say that we are negotiating [my contract] and how both parties will benefit, but it is no secret that I am happy to be here. I love this club, I love to play for this club so we will see how things go,” he had said.

Now, it seems like a five-year renewal could be close to completion, which would make his signing near-impossible for Barcelona in the summer.

The Blaugrana remain on the lookout for a top-level right-back though and could prioritise a move for Villarreal’s Juan Foyth, while Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich also remains an option. But, any hopes of signing Dalot in the summer seem to be diminishing rapidly.