Manchester United sealed a deal for Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu in the winter window to fend off summer interest in the 20-year-old from Juventus and Napoli, Fabrizio Romano reveals.
The Italian transfer guru contends the Red Devils “wanted to get [a] deal done in January” as they were acutely aware of Serie A’s biggest clubs circling for Dorgu.
A new left wing-back emerged as a “critical” priority for United heading into the transfer window given the importance the position holds in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
Neither Luke Shaw nor Tyrell Malacia have been able to meet the demands of the exacting role, forcing Amorim to deploy Diogo Dalot on his unfamiliar side.
The lack of a natural left-footed option at LWB has impeded the team’s width and attacking thrust – two areas Dorgu will offer an immediate improvement, ranking first for ” successful attacking actions” amongst wing-backs and fullbacks under the age of 23.
United had identified Dorgu as an option, with Amorim’s approval, who could be signed this month without breaking the bank as the club’s finances are limited by the acute pressure of PSR.
However, Napoli and Juventus were both reported to be in the hunt for the Lecce starlet with, Romano states, “both keen on Dorgu for [the] summer transfer window.”
The transfer expert writes on X, “Patrick Dorgu will start earning £40k a week at Man United, then his salary will grow in the final seasons. Man United wanted to get deal done in January as they were aware of Napoli and Juventus both keen on Dorgu for summer transfer window.”
This interest reinforced the Red Devils’ intention to strike a deal for the Danish international this month – to buttress their coach’s squad and jump the rapidly growing queue for the 20-year-old defender.
Another attractive attribute was Dorgu’s wages at Lecce – believed to be around £10,000 a week. This means United were able to quadruple his salary in negotiations while still welcoming the Dane to Old Trafford on one of the cheaper wage packets at the club.
However, Romano reveals this “salary will grow in the final seasons” of Dorgu’s five-and-half-year deal.
It remains a coup for United to have beaten Serie A’s biggest clubs to the capture of one of the league’s most highly-rated prospects on a terrific deal financially, in a key area of weakness in the Red’s squad.
Featured image Enrico Locci 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.
