Fabrizio Romano names three-man Manchester United 'shortlist' as international joins Amorim favourite
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Manchester United are understood to be in the market for a left-sided defender this January as they aim to rise up the Premier League table after a lacklustre first half of the season.
The Red Devils signed Noussair Mazraoui in the summer to provide competition to Diogo Dalot on the right hand side of the defence but have almost exclusively been forced to play the Moroccan out of position on his weaker side due to the ongoing injury problems of Luke Shaw. Shaw has long been considered Manchester United’s best left back option and when fit and when available the 29-year-old has proven his calibre by twice winning the club’s Player’s Player of the Year award.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, Shaw has only played 68 minutes of Premier League football this season while also missing most of last term with a muscle injury. Overall, Shaw started just four league matches throughout 2024 and has been plagued by injuries throughout most of his time at Old Trafford since arriving from Southampton back in 2014.
Ruben Amorim is keen to rectify this issue with further reinforcements and has set his sights on a move for 20-year-old Lecce star Patrick Dorgu, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano. Dorgu burst onto the scene with the Apulia based side last season and was integral to the team’s survival in Serie A last term after racking up 32 appearances whilst scoring two goals.
The four-time Danish international has taken his game to new heights this season despite his team’s struggles on the pitch and has been one of the club’s most productive players in the wing-back position with three goals in 18 league appearances. Dorgu is known for having immense versatility, speed and a desire to get forward and help his team in offensive areas. He is valued at around £24m, according to One Football, with both Arsenal and Chelsea also showing interest.
Manchester United name three-man shortlist


Having strong wing-back options is integral to Ruben Amorim’s philosophy and the style in which he wishes to impose at Old Trafford. Romano reports Dorgu is one of the three potential targets for United but claims he is likely to be the most affordable option in this window. Romano posted on X: “Manchester United keep looking at LWBs as they’ve also added Denmark international Patrick Dorgu to their list. Milos Kerkez and Nuno Mendes, higher on the list but more expensive. Dorgu, monitored by #MUFC scouts in the recent months. Napoli are also keen on him.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdKerkez has played 53 times since arriving at Bournemouth and has thrived in the left-back position with an impressive one goal and four assists for the high-flying Cherries. At just 21-years of age, he is viewed as one of the top young full-backs in the Premier League and has been lauded for his exceptional speed and stamina. Meanwhile, Mendes, who in particular is familiar with Amorim’s style of football from his time at Sporting is also believed to be considering his future at Paris Saint-Germain as he approaches the final 18 months of his contract.
The 33-time Portuguese international is likely to be the most expensive of the three but has fuelled speculation of a potential departure from the French capital by turning down a new long-term contract with the Ligue 1 champions.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.