From Portugal: Man Utd preparing onslaught for 23-yo full-back hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Mourinho

Manchester United are reportedly interested in the services of Benfica left-back Samuel Dahl, who has become a favourite of Jose Mourinho.The Red Devils are preparing for what should be an eventful summer transfer campaign, especially if their finances are to be boosted by Champions League qualification.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYJason Wilcox is expected to sign at least two new midfielders, but he’s also expected to address the left flank by recruiting an inverted winger and a full-back.Man Utd add Samuel Dahl to left-back shortlistIn recent days, Man Utd have been linked with several left-back options, especially Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies. However, luring a player from a fellow European giant is never an easy task, so unless these two clubs are open to a sale, the Reds will likely fall short.Therefore, Wilcox and Christopher Vivell are keeping tabs on other profiles, and one of them resides in Lisbon.According to Record, United are considering making a move for Samuel Dahl, having already watched Benfica in action more than 10 times this season.The 23-year-old sharpened his skills at several clubs across Sweden before making the transfer from Djurgarden to Roma in the summer of 2024. But after a forgettable spell in the Italian capital, he signed for Benfica on loan in February 2025, and then sealed a permanent transfer for €9 million last summer.Jose Mourinho is a staunch defender of DahlDahl has been enjoying a steady rise at Jose Mourinho’s court, cementing himself as a regular starter at Benfica.But despite his exploits in the Portuguese capital, he has been repeatedly shunned by Sweden head coach Graham Potter. The young left-back wasn’t part of the squad that secured qualification to the World Cup on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Poland.But unlike Potter, Mourinho has been absolutely delighted with the Västerås native whom he considers a key figure in his team.“I am never surprised by what my colleagues do, because I respect the decisions they take. Why is he not in Sweden’s squad? Potter has to answer that,” said the Special One in an interview with Aftonbladet via One Football.“He has been fantastic and has improved incredibly since I arrived. He plays every minute of every game. He is very reliable defensively and very steady in attack. He is a top player. Potter? If he needs me, I am always available to talk about my players.” Dahl’s Stats in 25/26 Appearances Goals Assists Liga Portugal 26 1 1 Champions League 9 1 0 Champions League qualification 4 0 1 Allianz Cup 2 0 0 Portuguese Cup 4 0 0 Portuguese Super Cup 1 0 0 Total 46 2 2 Dahl is tied to Benfica with a contract valid until June 2029. Transfermarkt estimates his value at €12 million (£10.45m), but he would surely command a higher transfer fee.Man Utd have been heavily relying on Luke Shaw at left-back this season, so a young addition like Dahl would ease some of the burden off the England international, especially with Patrick Dorgu now vying for a more advanced role on the pitch.We can expect MUFC to be linked with a host of profiles between now and June, but the rising Swede could be an interesting track to follow.