Manchester United’s pursuit of Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu faces a potential setback as Napoli emerges as a strong contender for the 20-year-old’s signature, according to reports from Italy.
Dorgu, who joined Lecce in 2022 from FC Nordsjaelland for €200,000 (£175,000), has become a key figure for the Serie A side. The versatile Denmark international, capable of operating on both flanks, has also attracted interest from Liverpool.
Manchester United, however, view him as a crucial addition to reinforce their left-sided defense, with Luke Shaw sidelined and Ruben Amorim relying on Diogo Dalot in an unfamiliar left wing-back role.
Sky Sports Italy reports that United have already initiated negotiations with Lecce, even sending representatives to Italy for direct talks this week.
Despite this, Napoli is reportedly close to finalizing their own deal for Dorgu, which would allow him to stay at Lecce on loan until the end of the season. United could still outmaneuver Napoli by meeting Lecce’s €40 million (£33.8m) valuation for the young defender.
Meanwhile, Napoli is also engaged in advanced discussions to sign United’s Alejandro Garnacho during the January transfer window. The Serie A leaders, who had an initial bid rejected, are keen to meet United’s asking price, which is believed to be closer to £70 million.
Garnacho, a rising star for the Argentina national team, is also on Chelsea’s radar. His agents were spotted at Stamford Bridge on Monday during Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Wolves.
When questioned about Napoli’s interest in Garnacho, the club’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, commented, “He is an important player, but he is not ours. Expectations are high, but we will proceed on Napoli’s terms.”