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Football

30th Jan 2018

Roma want to sign Daley Blind from Manchester United on deadline day

Is this a good move for him?

Robert Redmond

Daley Blind could leave Manchester United on transfer deadline day.

According to reports in Italy, Roma are interested in signing Blind, who can play as a central defender, at left-back and in midfield. Calciomercato claim that the Serie A club have made an enquiry for the Dutchman, and United are prepared to sell if Roma meet their valuation.

Blind joined United from Ajax in 2014, costing £13.8m, and the club will reportedly let him leave if they receive a similar fee before the window shuts on Wednesday night. The report claims that Blind is willing to join Roma.

On Tuesday evening, Chelsea completed the signing of Roma left-back Emerson Palmieri for £25m, so the Serie A club may now need cover at left-back, and have the cash to complete a transfer for Blind.

The Dutch international has played in all six of United’s Champions League games, and in three of their Carabao Cup ties, but he has only featured five times in the Premier League this season. Jose Mourinho evidently views him as a back-up player, and has preferred Ashley Young and Luke Shaw at left-back.

There’s no chance of Mourinho using him in central defence, and Blind is extremely unlikely to ever play in midfield ahead of Nemanja Matic.

The 27-year-old has missed United’s last three games with an ankle injury. He has played 139 times in total for the club, and his contract is due to expire at the end of next season.