Manchester United’s pursuit of Lecce wingback Patrick Dorgu has received a fresh boost with the Italian side finalising a move for a versatile fullback, Danilo Veiga, to potentially replace the 20-year-old’s place in their squad.
The Red Devils have identified Dorgu, 20, as a priority target this month to buttress Ruben Amorim’s squad with a natural left wingback given the lack of viable options the Portuguese coach is able to rely upon.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are incapable of providing meeting the physical or technical demands Amorim’s 3-4-3 system places on its wingbacks.
This has led the 39-year-old to deploy his countryman Diogo Dalot out of position on the left-hand side, despite the defender normally playing as a right-back.
And while Dalot has performed to the best of his abilities, his right-footedness and lack of incisiveness in the final third are a hindrance to the team’s attack in a system which relies upon the wingbacks to provide width and threat down the channels.
Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain’s left-back, who previously played under Amorim at Sporting CP in the wingback role – was linked as an option to improve this situation, but a move for the Portuguese international proved too costly for United’s limited budget in January.
As such, the less-established Dorgu emerged as the first-choice option in Mendes’ place, with Lecce reported to be open to the Dane’s departure if a bid worth in the region of €40 million.
United have seen two offers rejected by the Italian club with the latest proposal believed to be €5 million short of Dorgu’s valuation.
But, as Fabrizio Romano reveals, Lecce are “set to sign” Veiga from Estrelo Armada. The 22-year-old is a versatile fullback capable of also playing further forward, as Dorgu often has in Serie A this season.
🟡🔴✅ Lecce are set to sign Danilo Veiga from Estrela Amadora as new fullback.
Exclusive story, confirmed. ⤵️ https://t.co/Mkvbo4Mx1j
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2025
Tweet: “Lecce are set to sign Danilo Veiga from Estrela Amadora as new fullback. Exclusive story, confirmed.”
This confirms a report relayed by The Peoples Person earlier this week revealing Lecce were targeting the U21 Portuguese defender, suggesting the club are actively preparing for Dorgu’s departure by bringing in fresh talent in his place.
The Serie A side are also believed to be close to a deal for Hearts defender Daniel Oyegoke, also a versatile fullback.
Lecce are not a financially strong side within Italy’s top league. The fact they are in talks to sign not one but two fullbacks should give strong encouragement over United’s pursuit of Dorgu with reports suggesting the two clubs are drawing closer to a compromise over a deal for the Danish international.
Featured image Gabriele Maltinti via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
