Manchester United have added a 'cheaper' left-back to their shortlist of targets for the January transfer window, according to a report.
Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim is believed to be keen to add a new wing-back and striker to his squad this month before an expected squad overhaul takes place in the summer.
The wing-back area, in particular, is one that needs addressing in the eyes of former Man United defender Gary Neville if Amorim wishes to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.
"If you don't have the wing-backs functioning up and down, that are able to attack and defend equally as good - and there aren't many of those around by the way because there aren't many teams who play wing-backs - then you're going to struggle," Neville told Sky Sports.
"You need two quite unique players in those wide areas and I think that's the starting point. That's nothing against [Noussair] Mazraoui and [Diogo] Dalot, they're very willing and doing the best job that they can. But to me they're the two areas [that need addressing] in this system."
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Man United weighing up Dorgu swoop?
Recent reports have linked Man United with left-back duo Nuno Mendes from Paris Saint-Germain and Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, who are both thought to be high on the Red Devils' shopping list.
However, it is understood that Man United have 'no budget' for the January transfer window and will be unable to strengthen their squad unless there are some significant outgoings.
Amorim's side may therefore struggle in their pursuits of Mendes and Kerkez, with the latter believed to be valued by Bournemouth in the region of £40m.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Man United have now identified four-cap Denmark international Patrick Dorgu as a cheaper alternative to both Mendes and Kerkez and have added him to their list of targets.
Romano adds that the Red Devils have been monitoring the Lecce wideman in recent months, while Serie A outfit Napoli are also interested in the 20-year-old.
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Who is Lecce starlet Patrick Dorgu?
Born in Copenhagen, Dorgu is of Nigerian descent and began his career in the academies of Danish duo Husum Boldklub and Nordsjaelland, before moving to Italy to join Lecce in 2022.
The 6ft 2in wideman, who is comfortable operating on either flank as a full-back or winger, made his senior debut for Lecce in August 2023 and has since developed into a first-team regular for the Serie A side.
Across all competitions, Dorgu has made 54 appearances for Lecce, scoring three goals in 18 Italian top-flight matches so far this season.
Romano reported in December that Lecce rejected approaches from Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Strasbourg for Dorgu, who is now expected to leave I Giallorossi in 2025, even though he is under contract until June 2029.
Oliver Thomas
