According to TuttoJuve, Italian giants Lecce are looking for £25 million for their left-back sensation Patrick Dorgu, with Arsenal circling around their prized asset.
The 19-year-old has taken to the Serie A like a duck to water, impressing elite clubs with his performances for his club and country this season.
Premier League biggies like Arsenal Chelsea, Tottenh*m Hotsp*r, and Manchester United are all linked with the young Danish gem.
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Spurs and Chelsea made contact last summer, but the defender rejected the Blues in order to continue developing at Lecce. Juventus have also shown an interest recently.
Hence, the Giallorossi have slapped a €30 million (£25 million) price tag on the player, which will be activated in January. His contract runs until 2027, and they might look to cash in if an attractive proposal comes to the table.
PLAYER PROFILE: LECCE STAR PATRICK DORGU
Dorgu plies trade at Serie A side Lecce. The 6’2″ was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and started his football career with Husum Boldklu. He then moved to Danish elites Nordsjaelland, where he made four appearances, later joining Lecce in 2022 for just €200k.
He initially played with their U19 side before making the first team debut this summer, after securing a permanent switch.
Dorgu shined in the Italian division, starting in 21 of his 34 appearances in domestic competitions. He contributed with two goals and one assist. The youngster’s ability to play on both flanks has added more depth to their defence.
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The Serie A star performed wonderfully for Denmark in the Nations League, scoring just 47 seconds into his debut in a 2-0 win over Switzerland last month. Nigeria missed out on the talent as he preferred to represent Denmark over them.
Patrick Dorgu’s month of September:
✅ Denmark debut
✅ Match-winner vs. Switzerland
✅ First Serie A goal of the season19 years old. pic.twitter.com/vbrP2OrJ9l
— Danish Scout (@DanishScout_) September 21, 2024
Destiny Udogie is another Nigerian-descent player who is working wonders at Tottenh*m after moving from Udinese in 2022.
Talking about Dorgu’s style of play, he can operate as a left-back or a right-back and can play as a wing-back as well. He has also fared well as a right-winger and can be involved as a part of the front three.
He has shown similarities to Bukayo Saka’s early days at Arsenal, where he was tested as a full-back before moving ahead in attack.
The Lecce star loves to cut in, get involved with the attackers, and is a press-resistant footballer. Can get past tight spaces and has the physicality to compete in the PL.
He only needs to work on his weak foot usage since he heavily relies on his left foot. Under Mikel Arteta, the 19-year-old will learn to distribute the passes from behind and help the team keep possession.
Patrick Dorgu 💭
-19
-6-foot-2 (1.85m)
-left back
-good in ground duels
-another great carrier
-effective feints
-technically raw
-powerful runner
-good burst and quickness
-strong enough to ride challenges
-comfortable under pressure pic.twitter.com/f4DOVhNLFX— gus (@yiddogusdos) July 23, 2024
Dorgu is fast and has developed an eye for a goal with his tricky attacking moves. He is one of the best young LBs out there, with his agent Kingsley Ogbodo claiming that many PL teams are looking at the huge talent.
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If Lecce gets £25m for him, then that will be a club record sale. Looking at his quick development, it’s only a matter of time before the youngster leaves Via del Mare for greener pastures. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal pounces on the deal in the January transfer window.
He can play a second fiddle to Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori. This will help the defender learn from the best in the league before making a name for himself at the Emirates. A decent long-term investment for the Gunners.
