MY ACCOUNT
Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries has been linked with a January move to three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Dumfries is a man in demand with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all said to be battling for the services of the Netherlands international.
All three teams are in the market for a right-back and the 26-year-old proved himself to be one of the best around with some impressive performances at the recent World Cup.
With the January transfer window now open, we take a look at which potential suitor may be the best fit for Dumfries.
Chelsea blues
Chelsea’s troubled season took another blow when Reece James suffered an injury setback upon the club’s return to Premier League action.
The academy graduate was injured in the 2-0 win against Bournemouth — his first game back after suffering a knee problem in October.
It was a blow for a team that have only won one of their eight Premier League games without the England defender this season.
Aside from James, the only specialist right-back that Chelsea have in their squad is their captain Cesar Azpilicueta. At 33 years old, the veteran cannot be expected to provide the same attacking thrust.
So it is no surprise that the club are looking for reinforcements in this area. Dumfries would be a short-term answer to James’ fitness problems and the long-term replacement for Azpilicueta’s spot in the squad.
From Dumfries’ perspective, the West Londoners would give him a move to a major club that are still involved in the Champions League, but whether he will relish a battle for regular football against a player as good as James is another matter.
Spurs options
Another London club that could offer a more straightforward pathway to the first team are Tottenham.
Antonio Conte’s style of play is very reliant on the quality of his wing-backs and though his options on the left are relatively strong with Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Udinese loanee Destiny Udogie, the same cannot be said for the right flank.
Emerson Royal has been the most used player in the right wing-back position but lacks the attacking qualities for the role.
Matt Doherty has played there since Spurs returned to action, while summer signing Djed Spence does not seem to be trusted by Conte.
Dumfries would represent an improvement on all of these players. Royal is said to be available for transfer, so the Dutchman would seemingly be first choice ahead of Doherty, with Spence likely to go out on loan.
The major obstacle would seem to be Tottenham’s other transfer options. They are also heavily linked with Sporting right-back Pedro Porro, who impressed against the North Londoners in this season’s Champions League group stage.
Wan-Bissaka upgrade
Of the three Premier League clubs linked with Dumfries, it is United who are currently faring the best.
The Red Devils have won all three games since the Premier League returned without conceding a goal. Erik ten Hag’s new-look team are currently fourth in the table, five points clear of Spurs.
Under Ten Hag, the right-back position has not looked as much of a weak spot as it did under his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Diogo Dalot has performed well this season and even Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been impressive in recent games.
Yet Wan-Bissaka does not have the offensive skills to be a long-term option under Ten Hag.
A question mark over Dumfries replacing him is how he would perform in a back four, having mainly appeared as a wing-back for club and country in recent years.
The former Ajax manager will know Dumfries well from his past battles against the player when he represented PSV Eindhoven and often appeared in a four-man defence.
Old Trafford calling
Any three of Dumfries’ Premier League suitors may provide an environment where he could flourish but if he has any element of choice as to which one he joins, some options may appeal more than others.
Chelsea could offer an immediate role in the first team but he would surely worry about how often he might play in the long run when competing with a right-back as good as James, who is a product of the club’s academy.
United or Tottenham would offer the defender a much clearer route to establish himself as a first-choice pick.
If Spurs are interested, their 3-4-3 formation would appear perfect to get the best out of Dumfries, who could form an enticing partnership on the right with Dejan Kulusevski.
Ultimately, United could be the No1 option, as they look closer to success right now than either of the two London outfits.
Dumfries would have a slight positional shift but he has the physical attributes to make his forward runs from a deeper starting point.
