Manchester United hold talks with Lecce over Patrick Dorgu signing

Manchester United are in talks to sign Denmark left-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce. Ruben Amorim is keen to strengthen in the problematic left wing-back position this month and United have identified Dorgu as a potential solution.

United have yet to agree a deal for the 20-year-old, who has been capped four times by Denmark, but discussions are progressing. Dorgu signed a new contract with Lecce only late last year, tying him to the club until June 2028. This is his second season with the Italian side, for whom he has 47 appearances and four goals.

United have struggled badly with the transition to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system since the Portuguese replaced Erik ten Hag as manager in November.

Amorim claimed on Sunday that this is perhaps the worst United side in the club’s 147-year history after United slumped to a 10th Premier League defeat of the season at home to Brighton. It was an extraordinary admission from Amorim, who fears United are in the midst of a battle against relegation.

Amorim has struggled with the left wing-back position, with Luke Shaw – who last started a game for United in February last year – having missed most of the campaign through injury and the new head coach demonstrating little trust in Tyrell Malacia. The Dutchman, a £14.7 million signing from Feyenoord under Ten Hag in 2022, could yet leave Old Trafford this month.

Amorim has tended to favour Diogo Dalot in the left wing-back position even though the Portugal international is a right-back. Dorgu is thought to be comfortable on both flanks although his preferred position is on the left, where Amorim feels United need more options.

Amorim has switched predominantly between Noussair Mazraoui and the more attacking option of Amad Diallo in the right wing-back role.

Meanwhile, Real Betis expect to complete the loan signing of Manchester United winger Antony, who is poised to join the club for the rest of the season.

Cash-strapped Betis have created room in their squad for Antony, and the money to help finance the deal, by selling 19-year-old home-grown attacker Assane Diao to Como for €12 million (£10 million). United will subsidise Antony’s loan by covering a significant portion of his wages with Betis agreeing to penalties for each set of five games that he does not play for them. Betis, 12th in the league and struggling, are confident the 24-year-old will join for them for the rest of the season.

United will also step up their efforts this week to find a loan move for Marcus Rashford with sources in Germany suggesting that Borussia Dortmund are hopeful of signing him with French club Monaco are believed to be their closest rivals.

Antony, who was signed by Ten Hag, has not come close to justifying the £81.3 million that United agreed to pay for him in August 2022. He has scored one Premier League goal since April 2023 – a run of 43 appearances – and has become an increasingly peripheral figure.

The Brazilian came on for Mazraoui as an 84th-minute substitute in the 3-1 defeat by Brighton, which is likely to be his last United appearance this season.

In all he has played 96 games for United, scoring just 12 goals and has only started three matches in all competitions this season.

United will hope that Antony can revive his career in Spain, which can then lead to him securing a permanent transfer and allow them to recoup some of that extraordinary transfer fee.

Antony is under contract at Old Trafford until 2027 with the club holding an option to extend that by 12 months.

His signing has become emblematic of the huge amounts of money United have wasted in the transfer market. Antony is the second-most expensive signing in United’s history after Paul Pogba.