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According to The Mirror, Manchester United have identified Kieran Trippier as an alternative to Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka as they hunt for Antonio Valencia's successor in the right-back berth.

Wan-Bissaka has gone from strength to strength this season and has won a lot of admirers throughout Europe, meaning it may be difficult for the Red Devils to secure his signature. Should they fail in bringing the 21-year-old to Old Trafford, then World Cup hero Trippier is seen as an attainable alternative.

Despite having a sensational summer in Russia with the Three Lions, the former Burnley man has had a difficult season thereafter, with his defensive abilities repeatedly called into question and Mauricio Pochettino potentially willing to offload him. If Spurs do indeed cast Trippier aside, a big money move back to Manchester could be on the cards.

What, then, are the potential consequences of the 28-year-old trading white for red this summer?

Antonio Valencia replaced

Valencia has been a faithful servant to the Red Devils since signing from Wigan in 2009 but the winger-turned-defender is way past his best now - a shame considering how brilliant he has been for the past few seasons.

The Ecuadorian's roots as a wide man meant he had all the knowledge and traits to make the correct decisions in the final third and he has been a consistent attacking outlet for United, particularly while Jose Mourinho, under whom Valencia had some of his best years, was at the helm.

At 33-years-old now, he can't get up and down the right in the way that he used to, while Diogo Dalot doesn't look quite ready to shoulder the burden of being first-choice right-back. Trippier is renowned for his delivery in the final third and will find a pinpoint ball into the box nine times out of ten given the opportunity.

This is something United have sorely missed and it would go a long way in their catching up to their Manchester neighbours, whose full-backs are as important in the final third as their forwards.

Trippier would be an excellent replacement for Valencia.

 

Dalot utilised as a winger

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly keen to bring Jadon Sancho to the club - a move which would greatly bolster United's wide options but one which would surely set them back an eye-watering amount of money. With a centre-back also high on the agenda, a lot must be done in the summer to get the Red Devils back up to scratch.

If the Old Trafford outfit fail with a move for the Borussia Dortmund starlet but sign Trippier, then Dalot could be limited largely to appearances on the wing, where he has played a couple of times already, rather than in defence.

Despite a tough campaign, Trippier is regarded as one of the best attacking full-backs in the league and it would be far more difficult for Dalot to get in ahead of him than it would be Wan-Bissaka, who is at a similar stage in his development and offers far less on the front foot.

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Trippier becomes the scapegoat

Soccer Football - FA Cup Fourth Round - Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - January 27, 2019  Tottenham's Kieran Trippier reacts    REUTERS/David Klein

Oftentimes has the England international shouldered most of the blame when Tottenham slip up and it's become pretty clear this term that he needs a lot of help from teammates when Pochettino opts for a back-four. There is no doubt that he is one of the most dangerous wing-backs in the league but when playing as a full-back he leaves his side far too exposed at times.

Having suffered a resounding 4-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend, it's clear that United need defenders who defend first - Trippier doesn't come into that category and, by including him in the starting XI, the Red Devils would be sacrificing further defensive security in favour of attacking threat. If a heavy loss follows, then it's likely that Trippier would be scapegoated as he has been so often in north London this season.