Manchester United are in negotiations with Lecce to sign young left-back Patrick Dorgu this January.
The Red Devils are scouring the market for reinforcements in a number of positions after an immensely disappointing start to the season, with Ruben Amorim struggling to steady the ship since succeeding Erik ten Hag back in November.
Several high-profile attacking players have been linked with United in recent weeks, from Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres to Paris Saint Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, though the latter now looks set to join Juventus on loan.
The Old Trafford giants are also looking to strengthen at the other end of the pitch, with the left side of Amorim’s defence viewed as a priority this winter.
Luke Shaw’s persistent injury problems over the last two seasons have forced United’s hand and it’s understood the club have drawn up a three-man shortlist of targets in the position.
Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and PSG’s Nuno Mendes are both under consideration but, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, ‘discussions have begun’ between United and Lecce for Dorgu.
The report claims ‘nothing is yet agreed’ but ‘dialogue is progressing’, with Amorim actively pushing for the club to back him in the transfer market to give his squad the best possible chance in the second half of the campaign.
Since breaking into Lecce’s first-team in 2023, Dorgu, 20, has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Serie A and United are not alone in tracking the Denmark defender.
The 25million-rated Dorgu, who is tied into a contract until 2028, has also been attracting strong interest from Napoli.
Dorgu has racked up three goals and one assist for Lecce in the Italian top flight this season, with the team sitting 16th in the division.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport last month, Lecce sporting director Pantaleo Corvino suggested the club had no intention of losing Dorgu midway through the season.
‘Dorgu is a potential champion. Correction: he is a champion,’ Corvino said.
‘On the left or right wing, he runs like three players and can find the goal. He has an engine that no one else has.
‘A player like him has admirers, of course, and there are plenty of them, even abroad.
‘But Dorgu will stay here, and then we’ll talk about it in the summer, because his destiny is already set – his future belongs to him.’
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