DONE DEAL: Manchester United set to announce first transfer signing under Ruben Amorim as superstar joined on Six-years deal
Manchester United and Lecce held positive talks on Monday over a deal worth up to £30million including add-ons for defender Patrick Dorgu.
Talks are expected to continue on Tuesday.
The progress comes despite Lecce’s president Saverio Sticchi Damiani making it clear that the club are reluctant to sell the player. Dorgu is eager for the clubs to reach an agreement.
United are keen to improve their wing back options, with manager Ruben Amorim committed to making his favoured 3-4-3 formation work at Old Trafford.
Dorgu, 20, recently emerged as United’s top target but the Premier League outfit have so far been unable to agree a deal with Lecce.
An initial bid of £16.8m plus £4.2m in add-ons was rejected by Lecce before United upped their offer to £25.2m during further informal discussions. Mail Sport understands that Lecce want £33m for the full-back.
If United fail in their pursuit, prepared to turn to Benfica’s Alvaro Fernandez and activate his £15m buy-back clause, which is active until 2026.
Denmark international Dorgu has started 21 of Lecce’s 22 Serie A games this season, including Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at home to Inter Milan.
That result left Lecce just one point above the relegation zone and president Damiani made it clear that he does not want to damage the club’s survival chances by selling star players at this stage of the season.
The 20-year old Dorgu is 6ft 2in tall, has four caps for Denmark and can also play as a winger.
United had initially targeted Nuno Mendes at Paris Saint-Germain but that was always a difficult deal due to the expense, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez was another under consideration but again would not be sold cheaply.
Dorgu’s contract with Serie A side Lecce expires in 2029.
He started out in his youth career at Copenhagen-based side Husum Boldklub before moving to Nordsjaelland’s youth academy.
In 2022 he signed for Lecce and a year later he was promoted to the senior team, making his debut in August 2023 in the Coppa Italia.
Since then he has gone on to establish himself as a first-team regular. He has started all but one of Lecce’s league games this season, with the one he missed being due to a red card.
In September he made his debut for Denmark against Switzerland and he scored his first international goal with his first touch after just 42 seconds.
