Manchester United have given new boss Ruben Amorim a new piece in young Lecce left back Patrick Dorgu.
The 20-year-old Dorgu, reportedly coming for a cool $38.6 million, joins 18-year-old Ayden Heaven as January signings for Man Utd.
The Danish player will join international teammate Rasmus Hojlund as United seek to re-establish themselves as Premier League top-four contenders.
“I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family,” Dorgu said via Man Utd’s web site. “I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting. There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions.”
He’s a little older than Amad Diallo so United will expect faster impact, but this does sound a bit like when the Red Devils struck to bring Diallo from Atalanta on a more expensive deal at age 18.
Who is Patrick Dorgu, and why do Manchester United need a left back?
Dorgu, 20, is a Danish international and is known for getting forward and offering an attacking threat and is very comfortable as a wing-back. That would suit Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system well.
His arrival at United tells us a lot about Amorim’s need to address the worrying situation at left back at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw is United’s undisputed first-choice left back but he’s hardly played over the last 12 months as injuries have ravaged him once again. United’s only other natural left back is Tyrell Malacia but he’s only just returned from a long-term injury and it doesn’t seem like he’s part of Amorim’s plans.
Both Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have been forced to play out of position as the only options at left back for some time now, and United need balance and attacking output from that side of the pitch. They need to have both Dalot or Mazraoui playing in their natural position at right back and right-side of defense consistently as they’ve been two of their main bright spots this season, along with Amad Diallo.
United’s squad needs a lot of rebuilding but bringing in a specialist left wing-back who’s on the way up and making waves in Serie A at the age of 20 is a decent start. This is sensible and addresses a clear need rather than just going for the big names once again.
