Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Manchester United for the signing of Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu.
Patrick Dorgu, 19, has established himself as one of the most exciting left-back prospects in the Serie A since leaving Denmark for Italy in 2022. A youth product of FC Nordsjaelland’s famed academy, he didn’t make a single senior appearance for the Danish side and moved to Lecce in July 2022.
The teenager, who has been compared to former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, enjoyed his breakout campaign with Lecce in 2023/24, bagging two goals in 32 Serie A appearances. Dorgu’s displays in Italy have caught the attention of several clubs, including Tottenham and Manchester United. The Premier League duo are reportedly keeping tabs on the Lecce starlet ahead of a potential swoop next year.
Dorgu has started all three of Lecce’s games this season and made his senior international debut for Denmark last week, coming off the bench to score the opener in the 2-0 win over Switzerland in a UEFA Nations League group-stage fixture.
Man United, Spurs keen on Patrick Dorgu
Manchester United’s interest in Dorgu isn’t surprising at all. They have started the new season without a recognised left-back, with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia on the sidelines. Shaw has become injury prone in recent years and cannot be relied upon. Malacia, meanwhile, missed the entirety of the last campaign with botched knee surgeries and is currently going through rehab.
Thus, Erik ten Hag needs a reliable left-back who can first and foremost stay fit before contributing to the team’s demands. As INEOS showed signs of changing the club’s recruitment model this past summer transfer window, Dorgu would be a smart fit at Old Trafford. At 19, the newly-capped Denmark international has the age and time to develop into a top player for the prestigious club.
However, Man United could face competition from Spurs, who are looking to ship left-back Sergio Reguilon off to Turkey before the September 13 transfer deadline. Should Reguilon depart, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou would be left with Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies as left-back options.
Recent reports suggest Turkish champions Galatasaray are planning a late swoop for Ben Davies as they view the Tottenham veteran as someone who can play in a three-man defence this season. Ange Postecoglou is highly unlikely to sanction the Welshman’s exit, but with the player entering his 30s and into the final year of his contract, the Lilywhites may decide to cash Davies in and replace him with Dorgu in January.
Spurs have found success in Udogie and would be ready to raid Italy again for Dorgu. That said, it will be interesting to see which club wins the battle for the Lecce left-back’s signature.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
