Arsenal and Man Utd to FIGHT with Inter over €50m record-setting defender

Rusty Gorelick

11 Feb 2026 18:50 GMT
5 min read

Mikel Arteta, Michael Carrick, Arsenal, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Arsenal and Man Utd are each considering a move for this season’s best attacking fullback in Europe, according to FC Inter News and TeamTalk.

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Federico Dimarco is in demand as he has six goals and 11 assists (some sources give him 13 assists, as two took deflections) in 35 appearances across all competitions for Inter.

But, Arsenal and Man Utd will have to fight the Italian giants as well, as the club is reportedly working on a contract extension for the leading assist provider in Serie A. Inter are likely to demand a fee of around €50m for their breakout star.

STATS

Federico Dimarco

D, M (L)

Inter

Federico Dimarco

D, M (L)

Inter

31

Games
6

Goals
12

Assists

Dimarco has eight goal contributions in his last four appearances, including a hat trick of assists in Inter’s 5-0 victory over Sassuolo on Sunday.

The 28-year-old has been an effective attacking defender for much of his career, but he has reached a new level this season. He has set the record for most assists by a defender in a Serie A season, and he is just five assists away from tying Papu Gomez’s overall league record of 16 assists in a season.

Two of England’s biggest clubs recognize his ability and want to make a deal, which would call into question the futures of their respective young left-backs.

Dimarco transfer to Man Utd could see full-time position change for Dorgu

Man Utd signed Patrick Dorgu as a left-back just over a year ago, but he found a new lease on life playing further forward before suffering a hamstring injury that will keep him out until April.

Signing Dimarco could be a benefit for the versatile Danish international, as it would allow Dorgu to play on the left wing full-time.

Current ETV

Federico Dimarco

D, M (L)

Inter

Federico Dimarco

D, M (L)

Inter

ETV Range

€42.4M - €51.8M

Dorgu posted three goal contributions in his three games at left-wing immediately preceding his injury, including the second goal in Man Utd’s 3-2 win over Arsenal in late January before he went off with his hamstring injury in the 81st minute.

On Boxing Day, he played on the right-wing and scored the lone goal in Man Utd’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle.

Whether he would play on the same or opposite flank as Dimarco, the Italian playmaker’s presence in both defence and attack would create opportunities further forward for the 21-year-old.

Another Arsenal left-back to spell the end for Myles Lewis-Skelly?

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s lack of playing time has gone relatively unnoticed as Arsenal lead the Premier League and finished first in the Champions League League Phase.
But for Arsenal fans, the 19-year-old’s drop in form has caused concern. The six-time England international has received just 312 Premier League minutes across 14 appearances, just one of which he started.

Current ETV

Myles Lewis-Skelly

D (L), M (C)

Arsenal

Myles Lewis-Skelly

D (L), M (C)

Arsenal

€56.5M

ETV Range

€50.8M - €62.1M

View full profile

Lewis-Skelly was a revelation in the 2024/25 season as an inverted left-back, tucking into midfield, winning duels, and distributing the ball while being able to cut through an opposing midfield while carrying the ball.
By the end of the campaign, he was preferred to the more experienced Riccardo Calafori, but that dynamic has reversed this season. The summer signing of left-footed defender Piero Hincapie has pushed the Englishman further down the pecking order.
He has lost the trust of Mikel Arteta to the point that many fans were disappointed that he did not leave on loan in January, as his fellow Hale End product, Ethan Nwaneri, did.

© IMAGO - Hale End products Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri
Dimarco is 28 years old, which means he is more of a short-term signing. Lewis-Skelly is still just 19. He has time on his side, but needs to play his way back into form.
Arsenal supporters do not want to see him join the list of young Hale End products who hit the ground running soon after their debut, only to fail to reach their full potential at Emirates Stadium. But the opportunity to add Dimarco to the world's best defence could be too good to ignore.

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