If Manchester United wanted a new left-back already, then Luke Shaw’s latest injury blow will only have strengthened that resolve.
Just weeks after returning from a long lay-off to make his belated first appearance in 2024/25, that curse struck again. Luke Shaw would likely have started in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal with Lisandro Martinez suspended.
Instead, while Ruben Amorim insists Shaw is ‘so important’ to Man United’s plans going forward, a devastating setback surely makes a new left-sided full-back a must heading into the January transfer window.
Manchester United have been linked with Fulham’s Antonee Robinson. Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves and Milos Kerkez of AFC Bournemouth have been mentioned too, while Alphonso Davies’ expiring contract at Bayern Munich has tongues wagging at Old Trafford.
One of the more lesser-known names on United’s left-back list, meanwhile, is that of Patrick Dorgu. The Lecce flyer who represents the Danish national team alongside Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.
Lecce won’t sell Patrick Dorgu to Manchester United in January
Dorgu has been nothing short of a revelation since bursting onto the Serie A scene.
The jet-heeled 20-year-old even has three goals already this term amid comparisons with a young Gareth Bale in his early days as a budding full-back at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.
But, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport this week, Lecce’s technical director insists that Man United can forget about signing Dorgu in the winter. A departure from the Stadio Via del Mare feels inevitable in 2025, but perhaps in June or July rather than January.
“Dorgu is a potential champion. Correction; he is [already] a champion,” Panteleo Corvino says. “He runs for three [men] and sees the goal. He has a motor that no one else [can match].”
“A player like that has admirers, of course. 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 set.
“The future belongs to him.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Ruben Amorim wary of Tyrell Malacia’s fitness despite Arsenal start
The £30 million-rated Patrick Dorgu succeeded Rasmus Hojlund in winning Denmark’s Talent of the Year award this month, recognition for the flying start he has made to his senior career.
Man United host Nottingham Forest on Saturday night.
It remains to be seen, with Shaw unavailable once again, if Ruben Amorim opts to hand Tyrell Malacia a second start in the space of only a few days. He may have reservations about that – Malacia was out injured for 17 months after all – with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui perhaps more likely to feature on the left-hand side against Nuno Espirito Santo’s team.
Amorim subbed Malacia off at half-time against Arsenal. Mason Mount and Harry Maguire also made way before the hour, with Erik ten Hag’s replacement keen to avoid any further setbacks.
“It’s not that I like to change all the time but Mason Mount cannot do the full game because we have to to be careful in this in this stage,” Amorim explained.
“Harry Maguire has to leave the pitch no matter what. We did the same with Luke Shaw. We did the same with Malacia. We have to control the time in this moment. We have to manage to a new idea winning games and try to [keep] all the players fit.
“So it’s a difficult period.”
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