Exclusive: Manchester United Brace for Diogo Dalot Bidding War as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich Circle Star

As the January 2026 transfer window enters its final stretch, the "defensive fires" raging at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have led both clubs to the doors of Old Trafford. 

High-level sources confirm that the Spanish and German giants have made formal contact with Manchester United to sound out the availability and transfer conditions of Portuguese star Diogo Dalot.

Real Madrid’s "Trent" Alarm

The blockbuster signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool has yet to deliver the expected return for Los Blancos. 

The England international’s tenure in Madrid has been plagued by a series of high-profile fitness issues, with recurring hamstring and thigh injuries keeping him sidelined for the majority of the current campaign. Frustrations are mounting within Alvaro Arbeloa’s coaching staff regarding Trent's availability. 

Consequently, Madrid’s recruitment department is closely monitoring Dalot, viewing the 26-year-old as the "ultimate solution" due to his flawless tactical discipline on both the right and left flanks. 

It is understood that Madrid have been making quiet inquiries into Dalot's contract situation at United, specifically gauging his readiness for a potential move to the Bernabéu.

Bayern Munich’s Defensive Collapse

In Bavaria, the situation at Bayern Munich has reached a breaking point as the club's right-back rotation is decimated by a brutal injury list. 

Josip Stanisic, sidelined with ankle ligament damage, and Konrad Laimer, suffering a calf tear, are both ruled out until at least mid-February, leaving Vincent Kompany with a significant gap in his defensive line. 

Meanwhile, Sacha Boey, having failed to reach the required performance levels, has officially been placed on the transfer list.

Bayern have reportedly reached out through formal channels to assess Dalot’s valuation and to determine if there is any "unrest" that could be exploited to lure him to the Bundesliga.

Dalot’s Response

Despite the interest from Europe’s elite, Diogo Dalot remains unmoved. 

While the Manchester United hierarchy, led by Jason Wilcox, is currently weighing up whether to offer him a lucrative contract extension or cash in for a premium fee in the summer of 2026, the player’s stance is unwavering. Dalot has reportedly rebuffed the initial informal approaches, reiterating his "total belief" in the project at Old Trafford.

United are expected to be hesitant to sell Dalot in January, already weighing how to recoup losses on underperforming transfers Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee.

For Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold has become a "fitness gamble," whereas Dalot represents a guaranteed safe haven. 

For Bayern, Boey was an "expensive error," while Dalot is seen as the ideal correction. 

While a January exit is nearly impossible, the formal inquiries made this month have set the stage for a massive bidding war.