Man Utd could be scuppered in deal for Dorgu as rival side offer loan deal

Manchester United could suffer a major blow to their chances of signing Patrick Dorgu this month.

The Red Devils are in talks with Lecce over a deal for the Danish full-back as they look to address their long-standing need for a left-sided defender for Ruben Amorim’s squad.

United scouted Dorgu before Christmas, and it is understood that Lecce rejected approaches from both Chelsea and Tottenham during the summer transfer window.

While the 13-times Premier League champions are said to have travelled to hold face-to-face negotiations in Italy over a deal, they now appear to be faced with the prospect of Napoli reaching an agreement first, according to Sky Sports Italia.

Antonio Conte's team are said to be are close to reaching a deal for Dorgu that would see him remain at Lecce on loan until the end of the season.

If United were to meet the Italian's £33.8million asking price, they would beat Napoli to the deal.

Lecce sporting director Pantaleo Corvino had also previously ruled out a January sale for the 20-year-old.

“A player like that naturally has admirers,” Corvino said. “And for him, there are certainly many, even abroad.

"But Dorgu will stay here, and then, in the summer, we’ll talk about it because his destiny is already set. The future belongs to him.”

This is not the only instance where Napoli’s transfer activity could impact United this month.

The Red Devils have already turned down a £40 million bid from the Italian side for Alejandro Garnacho.

The winger was reportedly interested in the move, and United have expressed a willingness to facilitate a sale at the right price, though they are not actively pursuing a deal.

When asked about the possibility of a deal for Garnacho, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna admitted they were evaluating the situation.

On Saturday, he said: “We are making some assessments; he is an important player, but he is not ours.

"We must not get carried away, even though we know that an important player has left, a top player as the manager defined him, and therefore the expectations are high. But we will do something on Napoli’s terms.”