Napoli have reportedly made an attempt to hijack Manchester United's move for Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu.
Reports over a move to Old Trafford for the young Danish left-back have intensified this week, with Ruben Amorim likely to be desperate for new faces to come in following their dismal recent form.
A 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion saw Amorim suggest that this current Man United team could be the worst in the club's history.
Man United have won just three of the 11 Premier League games under Amorim since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon, and find themselves all the way down in 13th.
The Portuguese manager has got only Tyrell Malacia available to him as a natural left-sided defender at the moment, with Luke Shaw out injured and Diogo Dalot often covering on that side despite being a naturally right-sided player.
© Imago
Napoli looking to hijack Man United's Dorgu move
While Sky Italia claim that Man United have representatives in Italy negotiating with Lecce, Napoli are also in for the player, and are willing to offer the club favourable terms.
The major factor in Napoli's bid is that they will be happy to allow Dorgu to stay at Leece on loan for the rest of the season, with an agreement thought to be close between the clubs.
Lecce's Serie A survival is hanging in the balance at present, with Marco Giampaolo's men sitting one place above the drop zone, so they will want to remain as strong as possible following the closure of the winter transfer window.
In order to ensure they get their man, Sky Italia are claiming that if the Red Devils upped their bid to around £34m (€40m) for the 20-year-old, then Lecce would be obliged to accept their proposal instead.
Napoli could also be set to take one of Man United's players off them, with reports also stating that the club's representatives are using the trip to also speak to the 2023 Scudetto winners about a move for Alejandro Garnacho.
© Imago
What have Man United offered for Dorgu?
According to Sky Italia, director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves is in Milan as Man United discuss a move for Dorgu.
With their current offer currently standing at £25m, plus a potential £4m in add ons (€30m + €5m), Lecce are unwilling to do business in this window for that price.
Given their position near the bottom of Serie A, keeping Dorgu until the summer is of great interest to the club, hence why Napoli's bid is currently the most attractive proposition to them.
However, following years of mass spending, United will continue to negotiate but only within responsible financial limits, possibly making a deal difficult to strike.
Andrew Delaney
