Man Utd transfer target urged to turn down January move to Old Trafford

01/27/2025 11:32 AM

Manchester United transfer target Patrick Dorgu has been advised to turn down a move to Old Trafford by his former national team coach.

Dorgu has been identified as a key target for Ruben Amorim this window as the new United boss seeks to bring a natural left-sided wing-back to suit his system.

The 20-year-old is only in his second season with Lecce following his €200,000 (£175,000) move from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland but has quickly established himself as a top prospect in Serie A.

United have already opened negotiations with Lecce for the defender, but saw their initial offer of €27m (£22.8m) rejected, with the Italian club said to be holding out for a €40m (£33.8m) fee.

Discussions are expected to continue over the next week to try and overcome a different in valuations before deadline day, but Lecce are determined to keep hold of Dorgu until the end of the season.

‘[In terms of sales] we are trying to resist, as is logical, because it is in our interest to keep the players who are protagonists of this group,’ club president Saverio Sticchi Damiani told Sky Italia.

‘So far, our idea is to not sell anyone in January.’

And Lecce are not the only ones who don’t want to see their prised asset set sail for Old Trafford, with Jens Fonnskov Olsen, one of Dorgu’s coaches in Denmark’s Under-19s set-up, advising the defender to turn down a move to United for the time being.

‘If I have to be a little cheeky, I hope he chooses something other than Manchester United right now, Olsen, who now coaches Danish top-tier side Nordsjaelland, told Tipsbladet.

‘I don’t know if it’s a bad fit, but they’re just in a period where… I don’t know if you can afford to say no to United, but maybe somewhere where there’s a little more structure and where things fit in with his pace.

‘Sometimes things have to go in the right order, if you can say it like that.’

Asked about Dorgu’s qualities, Olsen added: ‘I think he had some exciting skills. I had him on the national team, and he stuck with it pretty quickly.

‘Patrick is fast, he is forward-thinking, he can head both offensively and defensively, and he has a very, very good left foot.”

‘He is a creative player who can also play on the pitch and solve some things.

‘I am incredibly happy that I brought him in and just believed in him in that situation, and I am really happy for him, in terms of how his career has developed.’

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