Dalot free to face United with Milan in the last 16

DIOGO Dalot is eligible to play against United for AC Milan in the Europa League.

The Reds have drawn the Italians in the round-of-16.

Dalot is on loan at Milan until the end of the season and under the terms of his contract he is free to play against his parent club in next month’s two-legged tie.

The 21-year-old has started in seven of Milan’s eight Europa League matches this season and coach Stefano Pioli must decide whether the right-back is ready to play against United.

The Reds bought Dalot for £19m from Porto in 2018 and the Portuguese is contracted to the club until 2023. United have the option of an additional year but Dalot made only seven starts for them last season - once in the Premier League.

When Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams were unavailable for the trek to Crystal Palace last July, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer selected Timothy Fosu-Mensah over Dalot in what was his first United appearance in more than three years.

Fosu-Mensah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen last month for £1.5m but Dalot’s future at United appears bleak and the club are open to signing a rightback in the summer transfer window.

Ethan Laird, the 19-year-old right-back, was added to the first-team training squad last year and is currently thriving on loan at MK Dons in League One. Williams is providing cover for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at rightback.

Overall, Dalot has only started 25 times and made 10 substitute appearances for United.

The tie could also see Zlatan Ibrahimovic return to Old Trafford for the second leg.

The last-16 ties will be played on March 11 and 18, with United hosting the first leg.