Man Utd line up new bid for Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu

Manchester United are prepared to submit an improved offer for Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu after their initial bid was turned down, according to reports.

Ruben Amorim has been keen to recruit a new left wing-back this month who will suit his favoured 3-4-3 formation. Right-backs Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have all failed to consistently impress in that role while the squad's natural left-sided defenders, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, have both been plagued by injuries.

United had pursued Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes, a player Amorim worked with at Sporting CP, but Dorgu emerged as an alternative after it became clear that the Portuguese full-back was on the verge of signing a new contract in France.

The Athletic report that United are willing to climb as high as €30m (£25.4m), although that is still considerably short of Lecce's valuation. United's director of negotiations Matt Hargreaves has travelled to Italy to continue talks with his Lecce counterpart Pantaleo Corvino.

United are constrained by the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations, which limit the amount any club can spend across three consecutive seasons. Some funds will be opened up by the impending loan exit of Antony to Real Betis, but the Red Devils could still miss out on Dorgu.

Napoli are thought to be interested in the 20-year-old and are weighing up a bid which matches Lecce's valuation.

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