Manchester United are now said to be near a deal for Lecce’s left-back Patrick Dorgu. According to reports, Matt Hargreaves, the director of negotiations at Manchester United, recently met with Lecce’s sporting director, Pantaleo Corvino, in Milan. Ruben Amorim took over the reins at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag left. His tenure has started rather poorly. In outgoings, United have been dealing with a host of player departures during the January transfer window, and Dorgu appears to be on top of that list.
While Amorim has always wanted a 3-4-3 formation, it seems Manchester United’s squad isn’t capable of meeting the demands of that system. The team has had to cope with players like Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui being played in unfamiliar left-wing-back roles. This is primarily because of ongoing injury concerns with key defenders such as Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, which makes the signing of a reliable left wing-back a priority for the Portuguese coach.
There is news that the 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu’s impressive form for Sassuolo in Serie A has caught Manchester United’s eye. The international Dane has enjoyed four goal involvements from 20 outings so far, which makes him a good signing target for the United as the winter window nears its opening. Patrick Dorgu is one of the top three on the target list for United after some impressive shows from him at the club this season.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Red Devils already submitted a bid of €30million (£25.3 million; $31.4 million) for this young defender, but the two clubs remain apart from one another concerning valuations: the Lecce reportedly estimated that Dorgu would fetch €40 million. The negotiation between both teams is on; figures at Old Trafford believe they are close to having the player over. If completed, Dorgu would be the first senior signing at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim’s management.
This deal is more urgent because United have been in a run of form lately, and they are dropping closer to the relegation zone of the Premier League. The Red Devils are desperate to add reinforcements in January as the squad looks thin in key areas. Adding a player like Dorgu, who could immediately slot into the left wing-back role, would provide much-needed stability and quality in a position that has been problematic for United throughout the season.
Meanwhile, another transfer development at Manchester United is gaining attention. There are reports that winger Antony is set for a loan move to Spanish side Real Betis, with some suggesting this could be an indication that Dorgu’s move to Old Trafford is all but confirmed. Antony, one of the big-money signings under the wing of Amorim, has found himself playing this season not at his best position as a right wing-back but at £86 million, and much to everyone’s dismay that they can get on the pitch. His leaving will certainly create an attacking imbalance within United, but the hierarchy in the club is looking for the future with signing Dorgu to provide depth at left-back.
Fabrizio Romano, a well-known transfer expert, provided further details on Antony’s loan move to Real Betis. Romano confirmed that the Brazilian winger will join the Spanish club on a loan basis until June, with no buy-back clause included in the deal. The agreement also contains penalty clauses to ensure Antony plays a minimum number of games while on loan, highlighting United’s desire to see him regain form away from the spotlight at Old Trafford.
This is the decision to allow Antony to go on loan with the understanding that a replacement will be brought in. Ruben Amorim has not shown much faith in the Brazilian’s abilities, opting instead to deploy him in a more defensive role, which many felt was a waste of his attacking talents. While this move does raise a few questions over the transfer strategy at United, the club seems prepared to bring fresh faces to strengthen their squad in the second half of the season.
As the clock ticks down on the January transfer window, Manchester United are pushing hard to secure a deal for Dorgu. If successful, this move could mark the beginning of a much-needed overhaul at Old Trafford, as Amorim continues to shape the team in his image. The potential arrival of Dorgu is expected to provide immediate relief to a defensive unit that has been struggling with injuries and inconsistency.
With the team not performing up to expectations and pressure mounting on Amorim, signing Dorgu would be a major step in the right direction. Much will depend on the negotiations that are ongoing between Manchester United and Lecce, where the two clubs are still separated by a few million euros in their asking prices. Should United come out successful with Dorgu, the left-back will find a place among a team very much in desperate need of change.
As the January window is coming to a close, it is very clear that Manchester United are indeed working hard behind the scenes in order to make the moves needed to strengthen the squad and reverse the fortunes of their season. Signing Patrick Dorgu among other potential signings may be what it takes to shift the tide and regain some optimism into a fanbase growing increasingly frustrated with the club’s performances over the last couple of months.