United have sent Director of Football Negotiations to break the deadlock as Serie A side continue to play hardball – Di Marzio

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is desperate for reinforcements and apart from several outgoings, the club is also proceedings with their plans to bring in a new left winback this window.

Patrick Dorgu seems to be the club’s choice and despite the presence of several English parties, it seemed like the Red Devils were closing in on their first January transfer.

However, Napoli snuck into the race late on Monday with the Serie A giants offering to loan the player back to Lecce after acquiring his signature now.

With Lecce looking to avoid relegation, that proposal seemed to be the perfect fit for the club who had in the past mentioned their reluctance to move the Danish star on in the winter.

Meeting between United-Lecce

But as per Gianluca Di Marzio, the 20-time English league champions have not given up on the deal with intermediaries along with the club’s head of football negotiations, Matt Hargreaves jetting off to Milan to meet with the Italian club.

“Intermediaries and a Manchester United executive met with Lecce management in Milan. The transfer market is in full swing and Patrick Dorgu, a young talent from Lecce, is at the centre of a negotiation that could take him to the Premier League.

“The intermediaries of the operation, Leon Angel and Frank Trimboli, of the agency CAA Base, and Matt Hargreaves, Director of Football Negotiations of Manchester United, are in Milan and met this afternoon with the management of Lecce, represented by director Pantaleo Corvino and president Saverio Sticchi Damiani.”

The report further adds that the Old Trafford side are prepared to pay €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses to get the deal over the line.

Valuation yet to be matched

Initially, they were looking to get the deal done for around €25-30 million but Napoli’s presence forced them to up their offer.

However, Lecce are still holding out for more with previous reports claiming they want as much as €40 million for their versatile wingback.

“Manchester United’s offer for the Lecce full-back is currently no more than €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses. The club is not accepting the request for now and is waiting for a higher offer.”

Should the Red Devils relent and agree to pay as much, Napoli would be out of the picture as they would have no way of matching that figure.

Lecce seem to be playing hardball while using Napoli’s interest and the Italian media in a bid to drive up Dorgu’s price. That ploy certainly seems to be working.

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